Health experts are warning parents about the potential number of head lice when children return to school. According to the NHS, it is estimated that one in ten children of primary school age has lice at any given time, and the problem often worsens in early autumn.
In fact, cases of head lice increase by 30% annually in September, when children gather back in the classroom, according to experts.
“It’s understandable that parents are concerned about lice when they go back to school, as one of the peak seasons for lice to appear is the warmer season from late summer to fall and the gathering of children in close contact,” said Dr. Alexis Missick. a GP working with UK Meds, the UK’s leading online medicine company.
Children may complain of “itching, scratching, trouble sleeping, feeling some movement or itching in their hair,” according to Dr. Missick. Lice are spread through direct contact or by sharing personal items such as combs, brushes, hats and scarves.
“Yes, head lice can spread to adults in the household,” Dr. Missick warned.
The problem is that “the head lice have become resistant to over-the-counter medications,” Dr. Missick said. He recommended the use of products such as Hedrin and NitNots and suggested that parents contact their GP for further advice.
To prevent head lice, experts advise not to share personal items, soak combs and brushes in hot water, avoid contact with the head, wash clothes and linens in hot water and vacuum regularly.
“Lice are spread by direct head-to-head contact, which is why they are so common among elementary school-aged children,” said Dani Knapp, a lice expert at the family-owned company Nitty Gritty. “After the six-week summer break, the children are now together again in close contact; at their school desks, playing on the playground and even just sitting on the carpet listening to a story.
“All of this close contact gives the lice the perfect opportunity to move from one end to the other, and before you know it, half the class could have head lice.”
Experts say parents are advised to regularly check for lice as part of their weekly hair routine because “not everyone feels itchy when they have head lice – in fact less than 50% of people have this reaction”.
