Heads-up on head lice

Head lice are in epidemic proportions across Australia, being slightly more common the further north one travels. They most commonly affect children aged from three to 12 years but do not restrict themselves to that group - any age, gender and social group can be affected. There are a variety of products available to treat infestations with combing devices, novel treatments and herbal products being developed as lice develop resistance to traditional chemically based products (may be region-specific). Sensible management strategies can contain head lice outbreaks. These include regular hair and scalp inspections; combing with white conditioner if an infestation is suspected, washing any items that come into contact with the hair, and encouraging children to avoid head-to-head contact.