CHECK

The role of the parent in the battle against head lice

Primary responsibility for head lice identification, treatment and prevention lies firmly with parents
Head lice are an established part of school life - as children spend so much time playing and learning together, it is an ideal opportunity for lice to spread - but it is not the school’s responsibility to deal with the problem

A diagnosis of head lice infection cannot be made with certainty unless a living, moving louse is found – no matter how many nits are present, how many reported cases there are in school or how bad the itch is
If somebody has nits it doesn’t necessarily mean they have head lice – when you have got rid of all the lice, the nits will remain stuck to the hair until they grow out or they are combed out
Parents should check their children’s hair regularly, ideally once a week – a good way for parents to remember this is ONCE A WEEK, TAKE A PEEK
Remember, the presence of head lice will not always cause people to itch straight away, it can take over a month before this symptom develops
It is best to check for head lice using a comb made for the purpose, ideally white so they can be easily seen and with teeth no more than 0.3mm apart in order to trap head lice – research has found detection combing was nearly four times more effective than visual inspection for finding live lice¹
Combing through the hair using a conditioner may make the process more comfortable
Good lighting is important and so is comfort
Checking for head lice shouldn’t be considered a big deal, it is just a normal part of a family’s personal hygiene routine like brushing teeth or washing hair

Good lighting when checking for head lice is important