Head lice

These tiny brown or grey insects are as small as the head of a pin but cause intense irritation on the scalp, They can be quite hard to see and can easily be passed on at nursery and other groups where children socialise. Contrary to popular belief, head lice do not prefer dirty hair and cannot jump or fly. They simply walk from one head to another when the heads are close together. That's why children are more susceptible because they tend to play together more closely.

Signs of head lice include:

• A rash on the scalp caused by bites
• Eggs/nits - white shiny egg cases, around the size of a pinhead, found at the root of the hair follicle
• Black peppery droppings on the scalp
• Head itching - but this isn't usually the first sign!

There are two main ways of treating head lice:

• Wet combing (non-insecticide method) - this involves using a fine-toothed plastic comb and lots of conditioner on wet hair to part the hair in sections, find the lice and remove them. The combing needs repeating every two to four days until all the lice have hatched and been removed by combing
• Insectide lotions and rinses - these are quite powerful (some are only available on prescription) and should be used carefully, following the instructions. Some head lice are resistant to certain insecticides so you may need to try several types before successfully killing them off

What to do

• Check your child's head regularly for signs of head lice such as black powdery droppings or white, shiny nits (the empty eggshells)
• Brush and comb your child's hair often as it helps prevent head lice taking hold
• If you discover head lice on your child, ask your GP, health visitor or school nurse to recommend a lotion to treat the head lice and follow the instructions carefully, retreating after seven days
• If you've decided to try natural methods of treating head lice such as using essential oils like rosemary or tea tree oil, check that they're suitable for children as some can irritate the skin. Also, if you're pregnant and need treating too, check they're safe for you to use
• If your child has head lice, check all other members of the family as there's a good chance they'll need treating too