Published: November 06, 2008 10:20 pm      

Overtreating head lice can be dangerous

As students return to school and are routinely checked for head lice, parents are warned to take care in selecting and using the various over-the-counter products sold to treat this condition.

“The greatest concern the poison center has is the harm associated with the well-meaning but misguided use of toxic substances to get rid of head lice,” said Shannon Holcombe, education coordinator for the Oklahoma Poison Control Center.

The Oklahoma Poison Control Center recommends using over-the-counter products approved by the Food and Drug Administration, primarily pyrethrins or permethrin-based products. It is important to take time and use an effective metal lice comb to remove nits (eggs) and dead lice. The comb should be cleaned frequently. Eight to 10 days after the initial treatment, a second treatment using the same over-the-counter product should be used to ensure that nits are killed after hatching. If live lice are still present after two over-the-counter treatments, second-line therapy such as a prescription is needed, and a doctor should be contacted.

Excessive use of over-the-counter treatments may cause significant skin irritation or even burns. The poison center warns parents to use caution when dealing with any insecticidal agent, particularly on children, by following the guidelines below:

• Read and follow all the instructions on the package insert or label.

• Do not apply any insecticide or other chemical not specifically labeled for use on people.

• Mayonnaise, petrolatum, olive oil and mineral oil have not been adequately studied, so their effectiveness is unknown.

• The use of kerosene, gasoline, paint thinner, turpentine or industrial or garden pesticides is dangerous and should be avoided — well-intentioned parents treating their children with toxic or flammable substances have caused several deaths and poisonings.

• Do not use a hair dryer on your child’s hair after applying any of the currently available scalp treatments, because some contain flammable ingredients.

• Do not wash your child’s hair for one to two days after using a medicated treatment.

• Do not use more than one head lice medication at a time.

Signs and symptoms of head lice infestation include:

• Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair.

• Itching caused by an allergic reaction to the bites.

• Sores on the head caused by scratching that can become infected and be red in color and pus-filled.

Head lice can be found on the scalp behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the neck. The lice hold on to hair with hook-like claws found at the end of each of their legs. They are rarely found on the body, eyelashes or eyebrows.

You can help to prevent your child from getting lice or from becoming re-infested with lice by doing the following:

• Wash all combs, brushes and personal items.

• Tell your child not to share combs, brushes, hats, scarves, bandanas, ribbons, barrettes, hair ties or bands, towels, helmets or other personal care items with anyone else, whether they have lice or not.

• Examine members of your household who have had close contact with a person who has lice every three or four days and treat those who are found to have lice.

If you have additional questions about lice control, contact your physician or call the Oklahoma Poison Control Center. Pharmacists and registered nurses at the poison center are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1 (800) 222-1222. The Oklahoma Poison Control Center is a program of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy at the OU Health Sciences Center. For more information please visit www.oklahoma-poison.org.