Head lice - Detecting head lice

It's difficult to identify head lice simply by inspecting your child's head. Detection combing is a more reliable method.

Detection combing

Detection combing can be carried out on dry or wet hair. Less preparation is needed to comb dry hair, but wet combing is more accurate because lice remain motionless when wet.

You'll need to use a special fine-toothed detection comb that you can buy from your local pharmacy. The comb has a tooth spacing of 0.2-0.3mm to trap the smallest lice.

Nit combs aren't suitable for louse detection because the teeth are too close together. Lice can get trapped between the teeth and remain unseen.

Wet detection combing

Follow the steps below for wet detection combing.

Wash hair using ordinary shampoo and apply plenty of conditioner. Use a wide-toothed comb to straighten and untangle the hair.
Once the comb moves freely through the hair without dragging, switch to the louse detection comb. Make sure the teeth of the comb slot into the hair at the roots with the bevel-edge of the teeth lightly touching the scalp.
Draw the comb down to the ends of the hair with every stroke, and check the comb for lice.
Remove lice by wiping or rinsing the comb.
Work methodically through the hair, section by section, so that the whole head of hair is combed through.
Rinse out the conditioner and repeat the combing procedure in the wet hair.

Dry detection combing

Follow the steps below for dry detection combing:

Use an ordinary comb to straighten and untangle the hair.
Once the comb moves freely through the hair without dragging, switch to the louse detection comb. Comb the hair from the scalp to the ends, combing each section of hair three or four times before moving on to the next section.
Look for lice as the comb is drawn through the hair. If you see a louse, trap it against the face of the comb with your thumb. This will stop the louse being repelled by static electricity as the comb is removed from the hair.
Continue combing the hair section by section until the whole head has been combed through.

You can be confident of an active infestation if you find a live louse in the hair. If you're still unsure, you can attach any lice you find to sticky tape and take it to your pharmacist, GP or practice nurse for confirmation.

Checking the rest of the family

If you discover head lice in your child's hair you should check the rest of the family and alert close friends.

You should only treat hair after live head lice have been found. Don't treat "just in case". However, once confirmed, take immediate steps to treat head lice.