A diagnosis of head lice infection cannot be made with certainty unless a living, moving louse is found – no matter how many nits are present, how many reported cases there are in school or how bad the itch is.
- If somebody has nits it doesn’t necessarily mean they have head lice – when you have got rid of all the lice, the nits will remain stuck to the hair until they grow out or they are combed out
- Hair should be checked regularly, ideally once a week – a good way to remember this is ONCE A WEEK, TAKE A PEEK
- Remember, the presence of head lice will not always cause people to itch straight away, it can take over a month before this symptom develops
- It is best to check for head lice using a comb specifically made for the purpose, ideally white so they can be easily seen and with teeth no more than 0.3mm apart in order to trap head lice – research has found detection combing was nearly four times more effective than visual inspection for finding live lice*
- Combing through the hair when wet, or after applying a conditioner, may make the process more comfortable
- Good lighting is important and so is comfort
- Checking for head lice shouldn’t be considered a big deal, it is just a normal part of a family’s personal hygiene routine like brushing teeth or washing hair
* Balcioglu, C., Burgess, I.F., Limoncu, M.E. et al (2008) Plastic Detection comb better than visual screen for diagnosis of head louse infestation, Epidemiology and Infection 136 (10), 1425-1431
Head lice myths
There are many myths surrounding head lice that still exist, click here for the more common misconceptions and the reality.
Combing for lice
It is best to check for head lice using a comb that’s made for the purpose. Find out more…
