Educational Facts

What are Head lice?

Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are tiny insects that attach  themselves to hair and feed on blood from the scalp.
While head lice cannot fly or jump, they can spread from person to person through close contact or possibly through sharing hats, brushes  or other items that have been infested. Lice lay eggs (or nits), which   hatch in around 6 days, making infestation an ongoing problem.

• Head lice are small, wingless, blood sucking insects.
• Their colour varies from whitish-brown to reddish-brown.
• People get head lice from direct hair to hair contact with another person who has head lice.
• Head lice do not have wings or jumping legs so they cannot fly or jump from head to head. They can only crawl.

Do head lice live in carpets, clothes, hats or sheets?

No. Head lice very rarely fall from the head. They require blood to survive. Head lice feed 3-4 times a day and without blood they will dehydrate in 6 hours in a dry climate and 24 hours in a humid climate. An egg requires warmth to hatch and is the reason why they are laid close to the scalp. The further away from the scalp, the less likely they are to survive

What treatment kills 100% of head lice or eggs?

There is no single product on the market that kills 100% of head lice or eggs. Whichever product or lotion you choose, it takes time and persistence to get rid of head lice. We only recommend that you use products and methods that will not risk the health of your child.

Why do you have to treat again in seven days’ time?

Head lice eggs take 6-7 days to hatch. And when you treat, it’s easy to miss an egg or two. By treating again in seven days, you are aiming to kill and comb out any lice that have since hatched from eggs

What should I wash or treat at home?

As head lice only live for a short time off the head, the only extra cleaning needed is to wash the pillowslip on the hot cycle or place in clothes dryer. Head lice combs can be cleaned in water hotter than 60 degrees.

Does my child have to miss school?

Under the School Education Act 1999, a Principal may exclude a child with head lice from school…..And according to the Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001, children with head lice may be re-admitted to school after head lice treatment has commenced. At don’t bug me Pty. Ltd. we will issue a certificate of clearance immediately after the first treatment . This Certificate can be presented prior to your child going back to school as proof of treatment commencement