My children have brought a new health department leaflet home with advice
on treatment for  headlice.

1 Wet combing method

Headlice may be cleared over a two week period by the following method:
- wash the hair in the normal way using an ordinary shampoo
- Using lots of conditioner and while the hair is very wet, comb through
the hair from the roots with a fine tooth comb. Make sure the teeth of the
comb slot into the hair at the roots with every stroke, and do this over a
pale surface, such as a paper towel or the bath;
- Clear the comb of lice between each stroke
- Wet lice find it difficult to escape, and hair which is slippery from
conditioner makes it hard for them to grip - so removal with the comb is
easier;
- If you find any lice, then repeat this routine every 3-4 days for 2
weeks, so that any lice emerging from the eggs are removed before they can
spread.


Headlice take 7-10 days to hatch and a further 7-14 days to become full
grown and able to mate.

Linda Cairns, Tilehurst, Reading UK
NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor