Effective treatments for head lice.

Head lice is a parasitic infestation common in children. Proper management is essential to treat lice in a safe, convenient, cost-effective, and efficacious manner. School lice policies are often antiquated and can stigmatize the child and family. Evidence-based care guidelines may significantly help families minimize the stress of lice.

Demystifying pediculosis: school nurses taking the lead.

The treatment of Pediculosis capitis, or head lice, is fraught with misinformation, myths, and mismanagement. Common myths include the need to exclude children from school, the need to remove all visible nits ("no-nit" policies), the need for massive environmental cleaning, that head lice live for long periods of time, and that schools are a common location for lice transmission. Head lice are a common childhood nuisance, causing embarrassment and emotional trauma in both children and families. This article explores and challenges the commonly held beliefs about the identification, management, and treatment of Pediculosis by presenting current recommended evidence-based practice. It also challenges pediatric nurses, and school nurses in particular, in alignment with the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Position Statement on Pediculosis Management in the School Setting, to act as change agents for reasonable and effective school policies and practices.

Pediculose nos centros de educação infantil: conhecimentos e práticas dos trabalhadores / Pediculosis in children attending day care centers: knowledge and practice of workers

Este trabalho objetivou identificar e analisar conhecimentos e práticas, acerca da pediculose, dos trabalhadores de Centros de Educação Infantil (CEI) das áreas de abrangência de duas Unidades de Saúde da Família, Londrina, Paraná. Trata-se de estudo descritivo transversal. Foi aplicado formulário com questões sobre mitos, tabus, práticas, dúvidas e dificuldades na interrupção da infestação da pediculose em oito CEI. Posteriormente, realizou-se oficina com materiais educativos. Participaram 60,4 por cento dos funcionários, aqueles que estavam presentes no dia determinado pela instituição. Quase a totalidade referiu infestação pela ectoparasitose, assim como em seus familiares. A problemática é enfrentada cotidianamente nos CEI (72,1 por cento). Práticas adequadas de enfrentamento ainda são limitadas. Muitos mitos e tabus persistem (piolhos pulam, uso de sal, vinagre e querosene, etc.). As principais dúvidas estão relacionadas ao tratamento, e a maior dificuldade é a falta de colaboração dos pais. Ressalta-se, enfim, necessidade e importância de ações intersetoriais, preventivas e sistemáticas, no ambiente escolar.

An overview of head lice infestation in neurosurgical patients.

Head lice or pediculosis is recognized as an increasing problem in medical practice (Down et al, 1999). Secondary bacterial infections can occur in patients with infestation. In neurosurgical patients, head lice infestation may be a potential risk factor for peri-operative complications. Secondary infection could further complicate neurosurgical wounds with subsequent complications. The authors discuss epidemiology, pathogenesis of potential peri-operative complications resulting from pediculosis and methodology of treatment of this common condition. The importance of early recognition and prompt treatment in patients with neurological diseases is highlighted. A simple algorithm to treat scalp pediculosis is suggested.

Shared vulnerability: a theory of caring for children with persistent head lice.

Head lice infestation is a worldwide phenomenon that affects persons of all ages. For reasons that are not entirely clear, a number of children experience persistent head lice infestations lasting weeks, months, or years. Little is known about the impact of caring for children with persistent head lice on parents/caregivers. The purpose of this grounded theory study is to explore how parents and caregivers manage caring for children with persistent head lice. Data were obtained through participant observation and in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 20 parents/caregivers of school-age children with persistent head lice. The researcher identified a 4-stage process of shared vulnerability used by parents/caregivers to manage caregiver strain associated with caring for children with persistent head lice. The four stages included (a) being ostracized, (b) losing integrity of the self, (c) struggling with persistence, and (d) managing strain.

No-nit policies in schools: time for change.

No-nit policies that exist in many schools throughout the United States were established years ago based on fear and misinformation, rather than scientific evidence. Children who are found to have live lice are no more infectious on the day of diagnosis than they had been prior to the discovery. Transmission of head lice requires close personal contact, which is not common in the school setting. To date, no scientific literature exists to support the exclusion of children from school due to head lice infestation. Therefore, there is a need to develop updated school policies using research-based evidence to determine the best method of treating infestations while allowing children to remain in school.

Home remedies to control head lice: assessment of home remedies to control the human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae).

As the frequency and level of pediculicide resistance increases throughout the world, the need for novel solutions to control pediculosis has intensified. The development and registration of new pesticides has become so costly that many chemical companies are unwilling to pursue it and health-care providers now face a serious lack of new commercial pediculicides. Many infested people resort to using "home-remedy" approaches that have not been scientifically tested. In this article, we examined the potential value of six purportedly effective "home remedies" (vinegar, isopropyl alcohol, olive oil, mayonnaise, melted butter, and petroleum jelly) to treat head louse infestations and the likelihood of drowning lice by water submersion. Results indicated that only the application of petroleum jelly caused significant louse mortality but no treatment prevented lice from laying eggs. Most home remedy products did little to kill eggs, despite prolonged exposure. Petroleum jelly caused the greatest egg mortality, allowing only 6% to hatch. It was extremely difficult to drown lice, despite extended periods (i.e., 8 hr) of water submersion, suggesting that killing lice by depriving them of oxygen is inefficient. None of the home remedy products we surveyed was an effective means of louse control. This suggests that when treatment failure occurs, an increased amount of time and effort should be focused on alternative chemical pediculicides and/or manual louse removal (i.e., combing) rather than using any of these products.

A population-based approach to pediculosis management.

Pediculosis is a population-based problem that is a priority concern for many communities. Public health nurses in a county health department collaborated with epidemiologists, nursing students, and faculty to design and implement an effective population-based pediculosis management project. The focus of the project was the development of pediculosis treatment and prevention guidelines based on recognized best practices that were acceptable to both epidemiologists and practicing public health nurses. Public health nurses disseminated these guidelines to community providers and reinforced their use through consultation and educational sessions. Two critical changes occurred as a result of the project. First, community providers significantly changed their recommendations for the treatment of pediculosis after nursing intervention. Second, public health nurses increased their population-based practice skills, continued to use those skills to address pediculosis, and extended those skills to additional population-based initiatives.

Head lice: changing the expensive chemotherapy culture.

The revulsion prompted by the discovery of head lice on a child's head, and the money spent by the NHS each year on supplying licensed medicines for head lice, is disproportionate to the medical impact that lice have on their hosts. This article discusses the evidence available on the effectiveness of the commonest parasiticidal preparations, and argues the case for a more rational, simpler and cost-effective response to this common problem.

Scabies and lice: review of the clinical features and management principles.

Health care providers frequently encounter human infestations of scabies and lice. When a person is identified as having either of these infestations, he/she should be treated. More importantly, their close contacts should be examined and treated if needed. It is vital for dermatology nurses to understand the epidemiology, transmission, symptoms, distribution, diagnosis, complications, and treatment for scabies and lice infestations.

Head louse infection: a health promotion activity.

Head lice are the most common human ectoparasite. Although an infectious disease, louse infection rarely cause physical problems other than an itchy scalp. Social stigma surrounding infection induces feelings of shame, anger and embarrassment for families. Preventative health education and promotion via screening can effectively reduce the incidences of lice infection. The Mosaic Model of Treatment is recommended as the most up-to-date treatment regime, suitable for use on all children.

Head lice for A & E nurses.

Accident and emergency nurses are in an excellent position to offer skill and advice on the treatment of head lice, from health education to diagnosis and cure to contact tracing. This paper offers guidance on how to detect lice and how to treat infestation. There are a number of treatment options available, including pharmacological and physical treatments. Choosing the most appropriate option can be difficult due to reports of 'Super Nits' resistant to insecticides and lack of data to support the use of alternative methods such as 'wet combing' and aromatherapy treatments. However, nurses do need to be aware of how lice move between people, so they can take an active role in health education and make sure that patients affected by head lice are managed properly.