How to get rid of lice is a common question, as there are an estimated 12 million cases per year in the United States, most of these in children. Until recently, the preferred head lice treatment involved harsh chemicals and pesticides. These methods not only overly dried the scalp, but exposed the environment to long lasting dangerous pesticide residues. Currently, the emphasis is on mechanical removal of lice and their eggs or nits. This type of removal or “nit-picking” can be extremely effective if the following basic procedure is followed.

Anyone with lice should first be treated with an over the counter lice shampoo. Carefully follow all instructions, paying special attention to the length of time the product should be left in the hair. Lice can also be suffocated by covering the scalp with a generous coating of mayonnaise, olive oil, or petrolatum, and leaving it in overnight. Wear a shower cap or something similar to protect bedding, and rinse the hair in the morning.

Regardless of the approach you take to head lice treatment, it is essential to comb out the nits. Pharmacies have specialized combs available for this task. Nit combs are stiff combs have very closely spaced teeth that catch the nits as the hair is combed. This process makes many people uncomfortable. Some basic lice information may help make this essential task more tolerable. For example, head lice do not jump or fly so transmission during the nit removal process is unlikely.

It is not enough to remove head lice and their nits from the hair. They must also be removed from the home environment. Lice can live several days without being on a person’s head. To completely get rid of them, all the sheets and blankets need to be washed and stuffed animals or other items that cannot be washed can be sprayed with a head lice treatment spray or sealed in plastic bags for several days to kill the lice.

Nits are capable of surviving for 14 days without a host, so items that can not be thoroughly cleaned should be discarded or quarantined for two weeks. Stuffed animals that commonly share a bed with a young child should be kept isolated in an airtight bag. Some physicians will also recommend taking a vacation to avoid a further infestation.

Once the lice have been destroyed you should shift focus to prevention with the intent to stop any further problems. Inform your children that they should not be sharing hats, brushes, or anything that has regular contact with the head. They should also be told to avoid head-to-head contact during play just another way for them to contract lice. Make sure you inform parents of kids in contact with your children while infested to ensure that they know of the infestation. Lastly, remember there should be no social stigma to a lice infestation, having lice does not mean that you are poor are sloppy or dirty.

This article will outline how to get rid of lice. There are many of head lice treatment. The first step is to apply an over the counter lice wash. It is essential to comb out the nits. This makes many people uncomfortable. Some basic lice information may help make this task more tolerable. Next, you will need to eliminate all lice and their eggs from your house. Nits are capable of surviving for 14 days without a host, so items that can not be cleaned should be discarded or quarantined for two weeks.

- norman horowitz

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