WHAT ARE HEADLICE? Headlice are tiny parasites that live in
human hair, feeding on blood from their host. They are a
brown/red colour and have six legs with claws on them which they
use to grip onto the hair. WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? Experts
believe they have always been with us. Dried eggs have, so they
claim, been found on the remains of ancient mummies. WHAT IS A
NIT? The louse's egg, a smooth oval shape, slightly smaller than
a seseme seed, attached to the hair, close to the scalp. HOW
LONG DO THEY LIVE? The louse survives for 30 days and the female
lays 3-5 eggs per day. The eggs take 7-10 days to hatch and 7-10
days to mature, then the cycle begins again. CAN PETS CATCH
THEM? No. They can only survive on humans. HOW CAN HUMANS CATCH
THEM? By direct contact, where they can crawl from one head to
another. Also by sharing towels, brushes and hats, etc. DO LICE
JUMP? Lice do not have hind legs to jump, nor do they have wings
to fly. CAN'T I JUST WASH THEM OFF? No. Lice go into a state of
suspended animation underwater, surviving this way. DO LICE ONLY
LIKE DIRTY HAIR? It is believed that lice prefer clean hair, but
that doesn't mean they don't like dirty hair - they like any
hair. It is also not true that only poor, white people catch
them. Lice are not fussy and will infest anybody! CAN I GET THEM
FROM A PILLOW? Only if you lay where someone who's infested has
recently laid. CAN THEY LIVE ON MY FURNITURE? Lice can only
survive for 72 hours at the most once they've left a human host.
Most die within 24 hours. CAN I JUST USE A LOTION? There are
countless numbers of lotions and potions on the market. While
they kill the lice, they don't kill the eggs. Most are
chemically based and can aggrivate conditions such as asthma or
allergies. You can pay dearly for your products, only to find a
few days later that the lice are back again. SO HOW DO I GET RID
OF THEM? To clear the infestation is a long and tedious process,
but it does work. First invest in a metal headlice comb,
available at most chemists and a bottle of hair conditioner (any
make or price). Wet the hair thoroughly and rub all over with
the conditioner. Using the metal comb, comb right from the scalp
to the very ends of the hair. Wipe the comb with tissue and
throw the tissue away, or hold the comb under a running tap (The
lice cannot crawl back up the drain). Work through the hair in
sections all around the head, paying special attention to above
the ears and the back of the neck(warm spots). Repeat this
process every 2 - 3 days for three weeks, by which time they
should be gone. If you are still pulling nits or lice out,
continue until they are cleared. HOW DO I CLEAN COMBS AND
BRUSHES? Pull off any hairs or debris, then clean the teeth
using a needle or something sharp. Sterilize in boiling water.
As brushes and combs are fairly inexpensive, you could replace
them if you wish to do so. SHALL I WASH THE BEDDING? This will
not get rid of any lice. Give the bedding a good shake(outside)
then vacuum the bedding and matress. WHAT ABOUT FURNITURE AND
CARPETS? Again, a good vacuuming. SHALL I THROW THE SOFT TOYS
AWAY? No. As a precaution, you could seal them in a plastic bag
for three weeks. After that, any lice will be dead. WHAT IF THEY
COME BACK AGAIN? Then you'll have to repeat the process. IS
THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO STOP MY CHILD CATCHING HEADLICE? Only
a few things - Don't let them share hats, combs or towels. If
your child has long hair, tie it up for school (kids love to
huddle together). If your child has headlice, you MUST check all
other family members and treat them if necessary. ARE LICE
HARMFUL? NO! Although they're an unpleasant nuisance, lice are
not harmful.
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