HEAD LICE INFORMATION We have been researching head lice for many months now and have gathered a lot of interesting information. We have dealt with many individual cases and collected much information from children and parents who have been troubled by lice, many schools have helped, along with the department of education, health authorities, the medical agency, trading standards, libraries, the web and The Prince's Trust. Head lice (Pediculosis humanus capitis) have been around for centuries, they used to be regarded with horror and panic and often wrongly associated with poor hygiene or low social class, but nowadays there is a more relaxed attitude and people are aware that they like any warm human head, now being most common in children up to 12 years. They are small insects that can measure up to 3mm in length. They feed on human blood; each one can feed up to 5 times a day. They have a retractable fang which penetrates the scalp and probes about to find a blood vessel. Before feeding, they inject saliva containing anaesthetic, anticoagulant and enzymes which prevent the host from being aware of the bite as well as aiding digestion to the blood. The general symptoms of infestation are related to irritation of the scalp and although it is recognized that lice do not carry disease, the potential for secondary bacterial infection exists due to abrasions following vigorous scratching. The life cycle of the lice is about 4 weeks (apparently they can not survive more than 24 hours away from the head). We are not sure how many eggs are laid per day, some say 3-5, some say 5-10. The eggs take 7-10 days to hatch, it then takes another 7-10 days for the lice to mature and lay their own eggs. TREATMENTS A fine toothed lice comb is essential for the removal of head lice. All the treatments available, chemical or alternative are for use with the lice comb. Most solutions advise a second treatment 7-10 days later, this is required due to eggs remaining after the first treatment, and they are the hardest to remove, so a second treatment will remove any newly hatched lice to stop the cycle from continuing. Most GP's and pharmacies will firstly recommend the wet combing procedure but without a combing aid this can become a long task and can be very uncomfortable for the host, especially if they have long hair. There used to be many different treatments available, what happened? A few years ago, The Medical Control Agency decided that you can only market a head lice treatment if it is either licensed or registered as a medical device. So which is which? An easy way to know what you are buying is as follows: If the product is licensed, a license number will be displayed on the label. These treatments harm the lice in some way, interfering with their life cycle, or even killing them and will generally contain dangerous substances. If the product is registered as a medical device, a CE mark will be displayed on the label. These treatments are used as a combing aid; they are usually sold with a lice comb and will make the removal of lice, quick and easy. If the product does not display either, it is classed as a repellent only. We understand that these little beasts are extremely tough and any chemical solution strong enough to kill them does not seem appropriate for the delicate skin of a child, especially children with asthma and eczema. We recommend the use of a coming aid, anything to make combing easy. All the information gathered from our research helped us to find a solution that makes the removal of lice, quick, easy and painless, even on long thick curly hair. This treatment is also suitable for children with asthma and eczema 'The Natural Nit Kit' is a registered medical device which comes supplied in a spray bottle for easy application with a fine toothed lice comb attached. It is a natural aromatherapy treatment and contains several essential oils to give it a pleasant smell; the oils also have insect repelling properties. It is clear in colour so you can see exactly what is going on. It is designed for safe repeated use should the need arise.

Nit Kit 100ml                             £5.75

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