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Aggressive Treatments for Head Lice in Children

Head lice most commonly occurs in nursery school or kindergarten where, if left untreated on just one child, it is often passed from classmate to classmate. While many schools perform periodic lice checks to inform parents when children have been exposed, home inspections will catch an infestation sooner. With aggressive treatment, the inconvenience of head lice can be left to a minimum.

  1. Inspection

    • If your child is exposed to lice or if you notice unusual itching and scratching, it's time to inspect. Because they are very small and move fast, live lice are not always easily detected. However, the "nits," or eggs, are easier to spot and can typically be found about a half inch from the hairline attached to single strands. A good way to inspect is to comb the hair from the back of the neck forward with the child's head in the bent-over position. Hair naturally lifts at the roots in this position and better exposes live lice on the scalp and the light-colored "nits" that may have attached to the hair strands.

    Treatment

    • Lice treatment applications, which contain insecticides, come in the form of shampoos and creams and are widely available over the counter. Directions for use will be different per product, so it is important to carefully follow each step. Pay particular attention to the length of time the product is to remain on the hair as this is the key to killing all the lice, minimizing scalp irritation and avoiding reinfestation. If applied correctly, one treatment will be sufficient. Random or multiple applications of lice removal shampoos are not recommended.

    Nit Removal

    • While special shampoos will kill the live lice, there is no guarantee that the "nits" are destroyed in the process. Many doctors agree that to keep the remaining eggs from hatching, each "nit" must be individually removed from the hair strand. This can be done using the fingers or one of the special "nit" removal combs available over the counter. Removing the "nits" is very time-consuming, but it must be done to avoid a quick reinfestation.

    Prevention

    • Prevention is still the best medicine when it comes to head lice. Long hair is best kept in a ponytail at school and all children should be instructed not ot share brushes, combs, barrettes, hair ties and headbands and not to wear each other's hats. Even if a child shows no signs of itching, a once-a-week check for "nits" can stop an infestation in its tracks.

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