Description:
(NC)-Another school year is successfully underway, and across Canada, parents fear the arrival of a dreaded seasonal foe – lice. September reunites playmates after a great summer, so it comes as no surprise that the instances of lice coincide with back to school. While lice can pose a problem for parents and children alike, the following tips can help you successfully deal with an outbreak.
1. Know the truth
While many parents and children are embarrassed about lice, it has become so commonplace that they needn't worry. Lice are wingless parasites that are spread by direct head-to-head contact. Sharing brushes, hats, headphones and other accessories can also spread lice. Lice are not associated with uncleanliness and are equally happy living in any kind of hair.
2. Identification is imperative
Head lice are tiny (1-2mm) flat backed insects. They avoid the light, live close to the scalp, and lay their eggs (nits) on the hair shafts. Symptoms include itching near the base of the neck, the scalp and behind the ears. The key to identification is a live louse – if you haven't spotted one, you may not have lice. If you are unsure about identifying a case of head lice, contact your family physician.
3. Life cycle of a louse
The life cycle of an adult louse may take as few as 17 days. Once a louse finds a human host, the adult female lays her eggs (nits) behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. The nits take 6-9 days to hatch into nymphs, which then become adults in about 7-10 days. The adult period lasts 20 days, during which a female lays an average of 5 eggs per day.
4. Take control of infestation
It is important to know that lice hold their breath in water, making shampoos for wet hair less effective than those for dry hair. A convenient one-step treatment such as R&C 2-in-1 Shampoo+Conditioner, applied to dry hair, is proven safe and effective for treating lice. It should be repeated 7 -10 days after the initial use to make sure all lice and eggs are exposed. Remember to follow the instructions closely in order for the treatment to work at its full potential.
5. Don't forget nit removal
Another aspect of the de-lousing treatment is the removal of nits from the hair. Once a louse has laid its eggs (nits), they stick to the hair shaft until they hatch. While a de-lousing shampoo can kill nits, it will not remove them from the hair. A fine-tooth lice comb is an effective tool for nit removal, as the teeth are closer together which helps to remove the eggs.
6. Education is the key
While lice are often thought of as difficult to treat, it is likely that the proper steps have not been taken to eliminate them. Potential reasons for failure include misidentification of lice, improper use of treatments, lack of nit removal, new exposure to lice, expired product or failure to repeat treatment. For more information on how to effectively identify and treat lice, visit http://www.liceandscabies.com/schools.shtml
- News Canada |
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