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Welcome to Bubz and Mumz the place to meet and greet with other Mummies and Mummies-to-be to talk about everything Parenting and much much more.

Here at Bubz and Mumz we have many different places to talk about what you need help in wether you are pregnant with your first child or pregnant with your 10th child or are even trying to concieve we are here to help in anyway possible. Some of our Popular topics to choice from are Talkative Mummies Table where you can talk about absolulty anything weather it be about your children or what you ate last night, Time to have a Ball where you can come and join in on all the fun of the Bubz and Mumz games, General Parenting Issues to talk about an issues or concerns you have about your child and there are many many more topics.

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So dont be shy register and come in and Introduce yourself in the Newbies Playground. We are a very friendly bunch and wont bite.

Look Forward to seeing you around the forum.
From the B&M team
Sammie, Emma, Matilda, Allison and Mon.

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What are head lice?

Head lice are tiny insect parasites that live on the human head,
feeding on the scalp several times a day. Head lice reproduce by
laying their eggs (nits) on the hair shaft close to the scalp. They are
not dangerous, don’t carry diseases and are not a sign of poor hygiene.
How are head lice spread?
Head lice are spread by head-to-head contact with another person who has head lice, e.g. when doing
group work at school, playing, or hugging. Head lice can run from one head to another in seconds. Head
lice cannot fly, jump or swim, but they can sometimes ‘trapeze’ from one hair to another. Brushes and
combs are unlikely to transfer head lice and do not transfer viable eggs, as these are very hard to detach
from the hair shaft. Head lice are not spread through bed linen, clothing or head gear, as they do not leave
the scalp unless they are dead or dying. Eggs (‘nits’) do not fall off until weeks after they have hatched as
the egg shells are glued tightly to the hair shaft.

What are the signs of head lice?

The scalp may itch as the skin reacts to the saliva of the head lice. Itchiness can take weeks to develop. If
you have had head lice more than once, the skin may become desensitised and there may be little or no itch.
Crawling head lice may be seen in the hair, but they can move at 30 cm per minute and can be difficult to
spot. Head lice can quickly run and hide from searching hands. Adult lice are usually dark brown and
about 2 to 3 mm long. Hatchlings (young lice) are often a lighter brown and about 1 to 2 mm long.
Eggs (nits) may be seen attached to the hair shaft but they may be very tiny and hard to see, especially
newly-laid eggs close to the scalp. They are grey-white and about the size of a grain of salt.

How do I look for head lice?

Unless numerous head lice are visible, ‘dry’, head checks are unreliable, due to the speed at which head
lice can move.
To check hair for head lice, carefully comb plenty of hair conditioner through the dry hair, then comb again
in sections with a metal fine-tooth ‘nit’ comb. The hair conditioner slows the head lice down so they can be
trapped in the comb (see page 3). Wipe the combings on a white paper towel and examine them with a
magnifying glass in strong light, e.g. sunlight, to look for head lice and eggs.
To check more effectively for eggs, use a magnifying glass in strong light, e.g. sunlight, to examine the
hair close to the scalp, especially behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.

What other things can be mistaken for head lice?

Other objects in the hair can be mistaken for head lice or eggs. These include sand, dandruff, flakes of hairspray, ants, aphids, or other small insects.

What do I do if I find head lice?

 Check all household members to see if anyone else has head lice – use the hair conditioner method
from page 3. Only continue with the 10 day treatment if you find head lice and/or eggs.
 Choose one of the treatments from pages 3 and 4, and follow the instructions carefully.
 Inform the school or child care centre, and any other contacts including playgroup, neighbours and
relatives, so that other close contacts, both children and adults, can be checked.
 When treatment is completed, with all head lice and eggs removed, check the hair regularly, e.g. weekly, for
any further head lice infestation. Early treatment can prevent spread to further close contacts.

How do I treat head lice?

There are two effective head lice treatments on pages 3 and 4 – choose the method that best suits you
and your family. For successful removal of head lice, be sure to follow the directions for your preferred treatment exactly.
Household Cleaning
Head lice and eggs do not survive long away from the human scalp, as they are human parasites. It
is not necessary to wash all the household linen or clothing, to vacuum, scrub or spray the house with insecticide, or to treat the dog or cat. Pillow slips and towels may be soiled with head lice debris including droppings and moulted lice skins, so they should be washed on the first day of treatment.
Exclusion from School
Under the School Education Act 1999, a principal may exclude a child with head lice from school until
treatment has commenced. The Department of Health recommends exclusion at the end of the school
day. The child may return to school when all live head lice have been removed. A few remaining
eggs are not a reason for continued exclusion. However, the parent must continue treatment over the
following 10 days to ensure that all eggs and hatchlings have been removed.

Prevention
Useful activities and ideas to help prevent infestation:
 check your child’s hair regularly for head lice and eggs (‘nits’) – use a metal fine tooth ‘nit’ comb
and plenty of hair conditioner applied to the dry hair, to make the task easier and more effective. To
help children sit still for this, offer distracting activities, e.g. play a favourite video, provide games,
encourage reading, offer a head massage.
 tie long hair back – braid and/or put it up if possible.
 consider applying hair gel or mousse – these do not prevent or repel lice but may help to keep
stray hair strands from contact with other heads.
 avoid sharing combs or brushes.
 immerse brushes and combs in hot water for 10 minutes after use to kill any head lice or eggs
trapped in them. An old toothbrush will also help remove any debris.
 remind your child to avoid head-to-head contact with other children, e.g. when working at the computer with others, or when playing, or hugging.Repellents
There are no repellents that have been tested and proven to discourage head lice. Products including
head bands and caps impregnated with insecticide may have some insecticidal effect when head lice
come in contact with them. However, these products need to be worn all the time and, like all head lice
insecticides, do not kill all head lice eggs. Insecticides may also cause skin irritation.
'Troubleshooting checklist'
If treatment is unsuccessful, check the following:
 Did the chosen treatment cover the 10 day hatching cycle of the eggs?
 Were the combings examined for adult head lice (indicating reinfestation) over the 10 day period?
 Were as many eggs as possible removed every day?
 Was hair conditioner applied to dry hair, not wet?
 Was sufficient hair conditioner applied to saturate the hair?
 Was insecticide (if used), applied exactly as instructed, particularly for the recommended application time?
 Was a metal fine-tooth ‘nit’ comb used?