Child Head Louse Treatment: 5 Tips to Cure your Child of Head Lice

Head lice, a rather common problem of school-aged children, are easy to prevent, but difficult to treat. Children between the ages of three and 12 are particularly susceptible to the pests due to the many group settings that they're a part of, such as daycares, summer camps, sports activities, and, of course, school.

Many children also tend to share personal items, including brushes, barrettes, hats, scarves, and clothing, easily allowing lice to spread quickly even though they cannot fly or jump, contrary to myth. Additionally, lice are not a sign of dirtiness as they actually prefer cleaner hair, which is easier for them to grip onto, and they also do not spread disease. However, they can still be annoying and hard to get rid of, and their bites cause itching, which usually leads to redness and inflammation from constant scratching.

Here are five helpful and simple child head-louse treatment tips to cure your little ones of the troublesome but harmless parasites:

1. The key to successfully eradicating a lice infestation is a three-step process that must include killing live lice, removing every single nit (eggs), and also treating the environment around the infested person, including their personal belongings.

2. Olive oil, butter, mayonnaise, and petroleum jelly are all excellent for smothering or suffocating head lice, which are technically referred to as pediculosis, although nits will still need to be manually removed. Olive oil is the easiest of the four to remove from the hair but will still require several washings.

3. Wet your child's hair before combing through it as the water immobilizes the lice, allowing for easier removal. Many people also swear by using a flea comb rather than one intended to remove lice, although you should never use any type of flea or tick product on anyone other than the actual comb. Lice combs should have metal teeth that are no wider than three-tenths of a millimeter apart.

4. An effective child head-louse treatment doesn't just involve treating the child, but also the whole house as well as any other family members who may also have them. This means washing all bedding, towels, clothing, or anything else that may be hiding nits in very hot water, over 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 55 degrees Celsius, and then dried on the hottest setting.

Items that can't be washed and dried should be dry cleaned or completely sealed in an airtight bag for at least two weeks. This should include items such as plush toys, stuffed animals, and decorative pillows. All carpeting, throw rugs and upholstered furniture must also be thoroughly vacuumed. Do keep in mind that lice aren't able to survive for more than a few days after falling from their host.

5. A pediculicide, medicated shampoos, creams, or lotions, may be prescribed by your child's doctor. Lice removal kits can be purchased over-the-counter if other home treatment methods are unsuccessful or if the infestation is severe. On the other hand, some lice may be resistant to some types of commercial chemicals and require a more non-conventional method of removal. Never use a hair dryer after using any products containing chemicals, as some may be extremely flammable.

Consult with your doctor for ways to treat children under the age of two, who should not come in contact with most commercial products, as the chemical solutions are way too harsh for their young, sensitive scalps. Likewise, you should never shave your child's head in an attempt to get rid of lice, although cutting the hair very short may help to keep the pests at bay.