There are many diseases that affect our children today, but few are as wide spread as head lice. Sadly, more and more of us our facing this problem with our children. Lice are increasingly developing resistance to the most common chemicals found in over the counter treatments. On average about 25% of school-aged kids get lice each year.
To check your child for head lice you may want to first purchase some lice sticks. These are cheap wooden sticks you toss in a plastic bag that you seal shut and throw away. If you check a child for lice with your fingers then check another child you will spread lice from child to child. You will want to look at the shaft of the hair for nits, tiny yellowish-white oval eggs firmly attached at an angle. These are usually found about a quarter of an inch from the scalp.
It is usually easier to find the eggs than the actual lice. When looking for live lice you may want to use a magnifying glass to make it easier. Be sure not to confuse nits with dandruff. The nits will be found mostly around the nape of the neck, around the ears, and at the crown of the head, check the entire scalp since nits can be found anywhere in the hair.
When you do find nits you will want to remove them. They are tiny and can be difficult to remove. They can not be brushed out or removed with a regular comb. You will want to buy a special lice comb or get one from your local health department.
The lice are about the size of a sesame seed, clear in color when first hatched and then become brown after they feed. They will move quickly away from light. Two people checking through a child’s hair at the same time can be helpful.
Along with checking the child’s head you will also want to inspect their, room, clothes, coats, hats, beds, etc.
There is a new screening you can perform on your child as well. The traditional way is by carefully inspecting the child’s head for lice and nits. The alternative method would be wet combing. This method does take longer however it has the advantage of detecting live head lice easier, so in the long run it would be worth the additional time. You will want to thoroughly wet the hair and then run a find tooth comb through it. It would be best to use a lice comb if possible.
If lice are detected there are many options available. Make sure when choosing a lice product for your child it does not contain Lindane. Lindane has already been banned in 18 countries and severely restricted in 10 others. Lindane can cause behavior and learning problems as well as increase the risk of reproduction. No chemical lice product should be used on infants, pregnant women, or nursing mothers.
There are a variety of non-toxic treatments available. I used one on myself as well as my daughter to avoid the effects of the pesticides and drugs. An enzyme-based shampoo will help to loosen the “glue” that attaches the nit to the hair, it will also destroy the exoskeleton (outside shell) of the nit by dissolving its protective coating.
Licenex – Get rid of head lice and nits with no harmful chemicals.
