These itchy little blighters should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind rather than their hairlines. Flying Start looks into the ongoing problem and what we can do to expel them

For such little creatures, head lice are capable of creating a huge amount of fuss, with the controversial question - Are parents or schools responsible for the problem? With one in five primary school children currently affected, teachers and parents can’t help but be aware of the issue, but unfortunately embarrassment is still a head lice’s best friend.

Managing the infestations is primarily the responsibility of parents, however schools can play an important role by providing useful information that could help prevent further infestations. Head lice alert letters are generally discouraged since they tend to cause panic and can blow a relatively small problem out of all proportion, there more effective ways that schools can impart information about head lice:

• As part of a health promotion package covering a range of common infections e.g. verrucas, enclosing appropriate leaflets sent out at the beginning of each academic year or term.
• As part of a school newsletter in the context of other infections.
• As a leaflet given privately to parents of infected children.
• The key messages should be: At any one time, most schools will have a few children with a range of childhood infections and head lice infection is one of them.
• You can advise parents that they can request a regular e-mail reminder to out detection combing.
• Since the early detection and treatment of head lice is paramount in keeping them under control, schools may like to display an eye-catching poster where parents entering the school are likely to see it.
  
  Flying Start has answered some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding the topic of head lice:
  
  What are head lice?
  
  Head lice are small six legged wingless insects. They are parasitic insects that only live on the heads of people. A transparent grey/brown in colour, once hatched, they are the size of a pinhead and grow to less than the size of a match head. They change colour to red/brown after they have taken a blood meal from the scalp.
  
  How do they spread?
  
  Despite popular belief, head lice cannot fly, jump or swim, but spread by clambering from head to head. Anyone with hair can catch lice, although primary school children are most affected.
  
  Why do they live in hair?
  
  Head lice feed by sucking blood through the scalp of their host. The females lay eggs in sacs, which are very small, camouflaged and dull in colour. These are securely glued to hairs where the warmth of the scalp will hatch them out in seven – ten days. Lice take six – 14 days to become fully grown, after which they are capable of reproduction. It is a myth that lice prefer clean hair; they aren’t fussy about length or condition!
  
  How do I know if my child has head lice?

Head lice are difficult to detect on dry hair and they do not always cause itching, especially if they have only recently arrived on the head. It is best to search for head lice when hair is wet.

What is the best way to look for head lice?

• Wash the hair with your normal shampoo. Then, using a wide toothed comb, straighten and untangle the hair. Use a conditioner if necessary to make it easier.
• Once the hair is untangles, switch to a fine toothed comb. Ensure that the teeth of the comb slot into the hair at the roots and draw down to the ends of the hair with every stroke.
• The comb must be fine enough to catch the lice. Be careful not to confuse lice or eggs with dandruff or debris.
• Check the comb after each stroke. Rinse out the conditioner and then repeat the process on the wet hair.
  
  What options of treatments do I have?

There are many different ways in which you can treat head lice. Natural and environmentally friendly products are now the preferred methods:

• Bug Busting – This method aims to remove lice by systematically combing through the hair and physically removing any bugs that are found. It is an economical and chemically free way of treating your child’s infestation. The Bug Buster kit is available from pharmacies and by mail order. Visit www.chc.org/bugbusting for more information.

• Combing – Nitty Gritty is owned and run by three mums. It is small company on a big mission to change the world one head at a time. The Nitty Gritty Comb, available on prescription, gets rid of live eggs before they hatch, as well as lice and empty eggshells. It is quick, easy to use and works with your ordinary hair conditioner. That way, you won’t have to use pesticides that you wouldn’t put on your garden, never mind your child’s hair! The Nitty Gritty Comb is available from pharmacies, health stores and http://www.nittygritty.co.uk/
  

• The Lice Snatcher – The Lice Snatcher is best for removing lice from long hair. It works by literally sucking and combing the lice and their eggs from the scalp and hair. It is an easy to use piece of apparatus, which can be attached to your vacuum cleaner. The Lice Snatcher comes with a demonstration DVD and handy treatment plan. For more information visit http://www.licesnatcher.co.uk/
• Shampoos and Lotions – head lice shampoo's are designed for use before the lotion. They cleanse the hair thoroughly and nourish the scalp. The lotions are gentle leave-in conditioner, which aid the removal of lice and eggs.

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