Staying Healthy in School | Head Lice

Staying Healthy in School

After the enjoyment of summer, September can be an extremely busy month for parents as children return to school. The long lazy summer days are replaced with hectic schedules, long commutes, colder weather and darker nights.

Many parents may be concerned about how to protect the health of their children on return to school as Winter approaches. Carrigtwohill Pharmacy would like to take this time to answer some of the concerns parents may have by advising on some of the more common illnesses and health issues that children are susceptible to in the school environment. We are dedicated to giving your children the best opportunity to remain healthy into the winter.

Head Lice

Most people at some stage of their school lives have experienced head lice. While they are harmless, they are irritating and unfortunately can be a cause of great distress for parent and child alike.

It is important that detection combing is carried out on wet hair but any treatment is started. Performing the detection combing is simple and pain free:

• The hair is divided into sections with a regular comb.
• Then a lice detection comb should be drawn from the scalp to the ends of the hair checking for lice at each stroke.
• Sufficient combing may take up to 30 minutes.
• Parents can be assured that regular combing can be just as effective as chemical based treatments especially in smaller numbers.
• If a pharmacy treatment is requested, we will advise you on the best pesticide or non-pesticide lotion to be used and will explain how to administer the lotion.
• All these steps need to be repeated  regularly and absolute success is not guaranteed.
• Treatment can be regarded as successful is no live lice are found on both days three and seven after completion of a course of treatment.

Lice will only spread from head to head contact and will not survive on bedding or clothing. and regular combing is a far more effective at detection than relying on a repellant spray. Itching may continue for a number of weeks after a successful treatment so parents should not try to worry too much and avoid retreatment.