Detection
Ready for a bit of detective work? The best way to be certain you or your child has head lice is by ‘detection combing’. What you’re looking for is a live, moving louse. Here’s what you’ll need –
- A Full Marks detection comb
- An ordinary comb
- White tissue paper
- Good lighting
- About 15 minutes for normal length hair
- Remove any tangles by combing the hair with the ordinary comb. The hair can be wet or dry.
- If the hair is long, separate into sections to make the next steps easy.
- Take the Detector Comb, and starting with its teeth touching the scalp, slowly draw it out to the tips of the hair.
- After each stroke, check the teeth of the comb under a good light for lice.
- Continue to comb each section thoroughly until the whole head is done. This can take around an hour for long hair.
- If there are any lice present, you should find them caught on the teeth of the comb.
If you find something, but aren’t sure what it is, wipe it on to tissue paper, pop the tissue in a plastic bag and take it to your local pharmacy or GP surgery for advice.
Contact tracing
It’s important to try and contact anyone the person with head lice has been in close contact with. This process is called contact tracing. That way, they can also check for head lice – and the chances of everyone catching head lice all over again is reduced.
We have created a contact tracing list for you to download and print out. This should help you trace and identify people you think an infected person may have been in contact with Click here to download it.
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