The Silent Intruder

Written by 

                            Vicki P. Daniels RN, BSN

                  School nurse-Southeast Elementary, Mansfield

The Silent Intruder 

Pediculosis or Head Lice, as they are more commonly known, are equal opportunity parasites that insidiously invade families. They do not demand disclosure of the host’s economic status, level of education or their practice of hygiene. Head lice lead simple lives. They seek nesting sites within one inch of the human scalp to ensure an ample blood supply for up to 150 eggs that can be laid by a single adult during their 30 day life span. Each egg adheres to a single human hair shaft. The egg is held firmly in place by a sticky substance that remains long after the lice is hatched. Their only error is to create an itchy environment that alerts the host that lice have moved in and will not be easily evicted.

Many parents have experienced what seems like a second career after a simple request from their child’s school nurse, “Please pick up your child and begin treatment for lice.”  

Treatment begins with long hours of applying commercial (Nix or Rid) or prescription shampoo (Ovide), and then using a fine toothed metal comb to comb out live/dead adults, larvae, and egg casings. This is only the beginning. Laundering linens, vacuuming furniture, rugs and cars is the next step. It is followed by bagging the stuffed toys for two weeks because the eggs of lice hatch every 7-10 days. Children should be discouraged from sharing helmets, hats, or hair bows with their friends. The second shampoo dose is applied 7 to 10 days later; minimize the skin contact by rinsing the child’s hair in the sink. Many parents are concerned that this chemical exposure results in only a 60 to 80% success rate and they may choose to consider alternative lice treatments. 

Is there another way to halt their successful invasion? Mayonnaise, olive oil and petroleum jelly have been recommended as alternatives. After selecting one of these, massage it into the scalp of dry hair, wrap the hair with Saran Wrap and place a shower cap over the child’s head while they sleep. In the morning comb the hair with the metal comb, and shampoo. Parents have had success with these choices when repeated weekly for 3 weeks. In between, the parent maintains the daily ritual of combing. These treatments have not been confirmed by clinical trials.  

A clinical trial examining 100 infested people using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser had a 96% success rate. (Please refer to resource #1 below). It is applied to dry hair, combed through, and blown dry. Leave it on overnight; shampoo it out in the morning and repeat twice on weekly basis. In between, comb daily with the metal comb. For more information visit the nuvoforheadlice.com site.  

Additional resources:

#1. An excellent article for parents/guardians: Parents magazine article The Lousy Truth in October 2009 pages 113-115

#2. National Pediculosis Association: for pictures of lice go to headlice.org

#3. nuvoforheadlice.com

#4. http://www.healthfinder.gov/orgs/hr2088.htm