Help when coping with an infestation

Vital knowledge about the life-cycle

·         A head louse usually hatches 7 to 10 days after the egg is laid (sometimes 5 to 11 days)

·         A newly-hatched head-louse becomes full-grown in a minimum of 6 days.

·         Full-grown head lice move from head to head; younger lice tend to stay on the head where they hatch.

·         Full-grown lice mate and the female starts laying eggs, at the earliest on day 7 after she herself hatched.

 

Breaking the life-cycle

·         Preventing head-lice from spreading:  it is critical to remove the lice before the sixth day from hatching

·         Preventing head lice from reproducing: a new generation of eggs can be laid from day seven after hatching

 

Many products rely on killing lice as they hatch because it is difficult to kill live eggs with chemicals, and hard to ensure the removal of all eggs by combing

 

With a double dose treatment, applied on day 1 and a week later (day 8 ) the three risks are that:

1.    Lice hatch from eggs directly after the first application and reach adulthood before the second application, so they can spread and lay eggs.

2.    Lice may continue to hatch till day 11 even after a second application on day 7/8

3.    New full-grown lice, caught from other infested heads between applications will lay more eggs.

 

If you buy off-the-shelf, read the information on the pack to find out how many applications per infested head are required.

 

Remember that whatever the product, you always have to check for lice on days 5 ,9,and 12/13 and remove them to avoid the three risks of continuing infestation.

Metal nit combs are not recommended for louse detection and removal. 

 

Parents seeking prescription treatment for their children, may choose a Bug busting Kit, which is a registered medical device, available on NHS prescription.

 

For further information go online at www.chc.org or www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Head-lice