Headlice and nits
How does a child get head lice?
It is still often thought that head lice only occurs in children who have dirty hair, due to a lack of hygiene. This is nonsense. Head lice loves clean hair.
Usually head lice occur in children, it is transmitted through direct hair contact. When children play with each other and they happen to have their heads just close together, lice can crawl over. The lice can not jump or fly. If jackets are hanging next to each other in the playgroup, or the nursery, the lice also see a chance to crawl to other coats. The lice can also be transferred through bedding.
Symptoms
In general, itching on the head is the first complaint. The lice make small bite marks to suck up blood which causes the itching. In 50 percent of the cases, the child has no symptoms at all. This helps the louse spread even more easily.
Looking for head lice
It is important to regularly check the head to see if there are nits. This goes as follows. Wash your child's hair first with a regular shampoo. Then apply a generous amount conditioner. Do not rinse, but comb the hair well, using a coarse comb. Glide the comb smoothly through the hair, then continue combing with a lice comb. Always place the teeth of the comb on the scalp, near the hair roots, and then pull it all the way through the hair with a long stroke. You can do this best over a light surface, for example a piece of white paper. That way you can see lice better. Look after every flick with the comb if there are lice. After this, the conditioner can be washed out of the hair and the wet hair has to be combed in the same way.
Treating head lice
Comb your child's hair every day for 2 weeks. You must use a nits comb for this. When the whole hair is combed out, you should let the comb boil for 5 minutes in water or disinfect it with alcohol.
If this doesn't work, use an anti-lice medication. It is available in the form of lotion, shampoo and cream rinse from the pharmacy. Your pharmacist can give you more information.
Read the package leaflet carefully before you use the medicine and also follow the instructions given in the leaflet. People with hay fever, asthma or eczema could be hypersensitive.
Some substances must be left on the hair overnight, with other means a treatment time of 15 minutes is sufficient. If you are going to treat with a lice killer, do not dry the hair with a hair dryer. Let it air dry. The hair should also be treated daily with a lice comb. After a week the hair should be treated with the product again, because there is a possibility that some eggs survived the first treatment.
It is important to inform the management of the playgroup or the nursery, so the parents of classmates can be informed. They also have to check whether there is head lice. If so, the whole family must be treated. Sometimes the treatment does not work. In this case the lice have become immune to the product that has been used. It is best to go to the doctor to ask which treatment method you can use.
Preventing spreading
It is important to prevent recontamination and spreading. Anything that is contaminated, or what could be contaminated, must be properly cleaned. For example bedding, hairbrushes and clothing.
- The floor covering must be carefully vacuumed, the dust bag must be discarded afterwards. There are also sprays on the market that you can use to cover floor coverings.
- Clothing, bedding and any cuddly toys must be washed at 60 degrees.
- Combs are easy to disinfect with alcohol. You can replace hairbrushes easily.
Unfortunately head lice can never be completely prevented. A few tips are:
- Monitoring your child's head for head lice at least once a week is a good way. If you then find head lice, you can treat during the early stages.
- Let your child only use his own coat and do not swap at school.
- Try to keep a space of 15 to 20 cm free when hanging the coats.
- At the day care center and the playgroup you could hang a plastic bag or lice bag around each coat.
Most read information articles
-
1st trimester (Bloodloss)
Many women suffer from some slight bleeding in early pregnancy. Normally, women who have had slight bleeding in the first trimester have no problems during the further pregnancy. A little blood loss can be normal, but it is sometimes a cause for conc......(136190 x) Read more » -
Stomach cramps
Babies get tummy cramps. They come and go many times. It's no fun for parents either; you can see your little one in pain, the crying doesn't seem to stop, and sometimes it seems like there's nothing you can do to help. Bowel cramps oc......(120953 x) Read more » -
Pregnancy symptoms
It is important during pregnancy to know the difference between normal symptoms and those which should be reported to your midwife or doctor. Below is a list of the most common symptoms experienced by pregnant women. Areola around the nipples get ......(86090 x) Read more » -
Mucus plug
During pregnancy, a mucous membrane forms in your uterus. The mucous membrane prevents infections of your uterus. The mucous membrane will remain in place until you give birth. When labour starts, the cervix is stretched and softer. This can c......(66145 x) Read more » -
Empty days (Breastfeeding)
If you are breastfeeding, you will probably wake up early and go to bed late in the early days. Your milk production is not yet set to your baby's demands. Moms often feel uncertain during these "empty" days; baby seems insatiable and y......(63399 x) Read more » -
Feeding
For the first six months, breastfeeding or complete infant formula will usually provide your baby with enough nutrients. The amount of food a baby needs is always different for each child. According to pediatricians, you can use the following guideli......(61650 x) Read more » -
Stillbirth (Loss)
If you lose your child after the 16th week, or your child dies during childbirth, this is officially classed as a "stillbirth". It's a tragic and often traumatic experience for parents. A mix of emotions are involved; anger, guilt, sadn......(57899 x) Read more » -
Development of the foetus
An interactive video of the development of your baby. Slide the sliders to see the growth! The first picture shows the growth from 0 to 8 weeks, the second the growth from 8 to 40 weeks. You may also like this animated gif: ......(57707 x) Read more » -
2nd trimester (Bloodloss)
Occassionaly you may have some blood loss during your second trimester. Common causes include cervical growth or inflammation. Bleeding can pose a threat to both the mother and the unborn child. The most common cause of severe vaginal blood loss duri......(55158 x) Read more » -
Teeth
First teeth Generally, babies get their first teeth between 5 and 9 months. Normally, the first two are bottom incisors, followed by the top two, then the teeth to either side. All eight cutting teeth usually come through when the baby is 8 ......(52510 x) Read more » -
Sleep (Sleep during pregnancy)
During your pregnancy, you may have more difficulty sleeping than usual. A larger abdomen, heartburn, anxiety, back pain and shortness of breath lead to less sleep. You can get frustrated about the lack of good sleep. Yet sleep is very necessary......(51270 x) Read more » -
Checklist baby outfits (Checklists)
When you're pregnant you need to spend a lot of time and money, because the new little addition to your family will need a lot more than you first think! What will you need? Well, print this handy checklist so you don't forget anything! &n......(50703 x) Read more » -
Skin changes
The increase in hormones during pregnancy as well as other factors can result in changes to your skin which can include: "Pregnancy glow" You may get a radiant glow over your face. Your face seems to blush because you have more bl......(50165 x) Read more » -
Pregnancy after 35
Women are increasingly choosing to become pregnany at a later age. This has several reasons; work and career, still busy with study or promotion, no suitable partner, financial worries. The average age at which women have their first child increased ......(46141 x) Read more » -
Breasts
Pregnancy and breast changes: During your pregnancy, your breasts are temporarily a little bigger. The following breast changes are normal: The breasts feel fuller and are more sensitive because pregnancy hormones p......(44965 x) Read more » -
Reflux in babies
Milk-spitting isn't the same as reflux Many newborns may spit out or dribble a mouthful of milk after they've been fed. They can drink more than they can handle, and some of it comes right back up. This little bit of returned is ......(42524 x) Read more » -
Gender of the baby
Dr. Landrum Shettles was a pioneer in fertility techniques. He was involved very early in experiments in which ova could be fertilized in a laboratory. He has also researched for years to influence the sex of babies. He also wrote a book about it, wh......(42002 x) Read more » -
Coughing and choking
It's well known that babies put "everything" in their mouths. They do this to explore their surroundings. Small objects can be dangerous to children (especially young children), the objects may become clogged in the trachea, res......(41539 x) Read more » -
Fluid retention (edema)
It's normal for your body to retain excess water during pregnancy. This can be on average 2 to 3 liters. In the last month, especially, this is very noticeable; symptoms include swollen hands, feet and face. Even in warm weather, you will retain ......(40604 x) Read more » -
Clustering (Breastfeeding)
Clustering is a common term within the breastfeeding world. In short, it means that a child wants to drink at a certain time of the day, or sometimes even more often, with you. Sometimes a child wants to be at the breast continuously. It is completel......(40568 x) Read more » -
Conceiving 30 tips
If you want to use a lubricant then use PreSeed. When you are dry the sperm have less chance of swimming up, PreSeed provides a comfortable environment for the sperms to swim through. Eat green leafy vegetables with plenty of folic acid, and thi......(40554 x) Read more » -
Sex (Safety during pregnancy)
Sex during pregnancy Many people worry that having sex during pregnancy will somehow harm or disturb the baby. Although perhaps the mechanics, especially as you get further on in your pregnancy, may prove challenging, there is no reason couples cann......(39678 x) Read more » -
Pregnancy tests
When can you take a pregnancy test? Urine tests can take place one day before the next period starts. Blood tests can be done at 6 to 8 days after ovulation. Pregnancy tests work by checking your urine for a hormone called human chori......(38439 x) Read more » -
Jaundice
The cause of the yellow color of the skin and mucous membranes is the substance bilirubin. This substance is released by red blood cell degradation. The baby has much more red blood cells than an adult in the womb. The red blood cells also ......(38063 x) Read more » -
Pelvic instability
Experiencing pain in your pelvic region is another symptom of pregnancy and quite normal. Research shows that 50 to 60% of women suffer from pelvic pain or low back pain. Early in pregnancy, hormones make the pelvis more flexible. In addition, the......(37457 x) Read more » -
Hypotension (Blood pressure)
Your blood pressure depends on age, weight and health. Average blood pressure is 120/80 (120 over 80). The first number is systolic pressure. This indicates how high the arterial pressure is and when the blood is pumped into the arteries every heart ......(37389 x) Read more » -
Vaginal infections (Tests before pregnancy)
Normally the vaginal discharge is whitish or slightly transparent in color and feels slimy and sticky. In pregnancy it is normal that the amount and thickness of the secretions vary greatly. Most women have more discharge than normal during pregnancy......(36924 x) Read more » -
Foreskin (Baby care)
The penis primarily consists of what could be called a stem and an acorn. The "acorn" tip is very sensitive and protected by a thin fold of skin. In some boys this covering is complete, while in other boys the covering is only partial. I......(36686 x) Read more » -
During a twin pregnancy (Twins)
Approximately 3 out of every 100 pregnancies is a twin or multiple pregnancy. Normally during your first ultrasound scan it will be determined whether you are having more than one baby although it may take the entire nine months for you to get over t......(35085 x) Read more »