Family Casebook Nits

Aug 31 2008 Dr Gareth Smith

HEAD lice often occur in outbreaks and are quickly spread around the playground.

Tales that they are only found on dirty hair are untrue.

They are spread through close personal contact such as sharing hats or hairbrushes.

They cannot jump and do not have wings.

Adult lice can lay eight to 10 eggs a day, which look like small grains of salt.

The lice are about the size of a sesame seed.

They feed off human blood from the scalp.

Itching is caused by the irritation the saliva causes in the small bites.

There are treatments to buy over the counter which should be used with a nit comb to remove eggs left on the hair.

All the family should check their scalps to see if they have picked them up as well.