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Healthy
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NATIONAL PEDICULOSIS ASSOCIATION
The Fight Against Head Lice
It is almost impossible to find a community that does not have kids with head lice. With growing lice resistance to pesticide shampoos, the lice wars are that much more difficult to win. The nonprofit National Pediculosis Association (NPA) says that there is sufficient evidence that the chemical approach to controlling head lice has failed from a public health perspective. The continual reliance on pesticide treatments has enabled the louse to become well established among the childhood population.
Unfortunately, chemical agents and combing tools are marketed in a way that gives many parents a false sense of security. Products often fail to kill the lice and at the same time, ineffective combs tear the hair or fail to remove lice and nits. People soon become desperate switching from one product to another. Many give up on removing nits altogether and rely totally on the chemicals hoping that if they use them longer and more often they will work better. The result is a child overexposed to pesticides but still with head lice.
So what is a parent and childcare provider to do? Stick with the basics. The realistic and practical alternative to chemicals is early detection and manual removal. This is the safe ticket to defeating lice without hurting the kids.
The NPA reminds parents, however, that all combs are not created equal. For example, the term "fine-toothed comb" can be a misnomer if the fine-toothed comb you have is a "cradle cap" comb. This type comb does nothing to remove nits. The NPA developed the LiceMeister® comb which enables parents to screen preventively, identify head lice and nits early, and remove them immediately. The comb's long teeth are made of polished, surgical stainless steel and spaced with precision so that it will not tear or pull the child's hair.
The LiceMeister® comb has been a boon to accomplishing the NPA's mission to protect children from unnecessary and potentially harmful pesticidesand to keep kids in school, lice and nit free!
Tips to Manual Removal
- Use a louse comb, such as the LiceMeister® comb, to detect if lice and nits are present.
- Work under a good light. If eyesight is a problem, use a magnifying glass.
- Use a grooming comb or hairbrush to remove tangles.
- Divide and fasten the hair in sections, working each section individually.
- Using the lice comb, go through each section of hair from the scalp to the end of the hair. Dip the comb into a cup of water or use a paper towel to remove any lice, nits, or debris from the comb between passings.
- Look through each section of hair for attached nits (louse eggs) and live lice. Nits are always oval-shaped and usually grayish-white. Generally close to the scalp, but can be found anywhere on the hair shaft.
- Go on to the next section until all have been completed.
- After screening, it may be helpful to team up with another person. Lice move quickly, and you can catch them with the comb, tweezers, or fingernails, or by "sticking" them with tape that you double-side on your finger.
Resources
"Because it's not about lice, it's about kids." is the name of new poster by the NPA. For more information on the poster as well as 10 Tips to Lice Removal, contact the NPA , 800-446-4672; www.headlice.org
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