With school now back in full swing, children will be meeting old friends and making some new friends too. Probably, "sleep-overs" will again become part of the school-year landscape. But, beware, you could be entertaining some uninvited guests as well.

According to statistics from the NSW Health Department, more than 20% of primary school students are likely to have head lice; and it's unlikely these statistics would vary too much from state to state.

The fact is anyone with a head can catch head lice - regardless of age, sex, background or how clean your hair is. Head lice spread anywhere that people work, play and live together. Most often children get them at school - often at the start of school. Indeed, it takes only one infested head to infest a whole classroom full of heads; then our children so unselfishly pass the infestation on to the rest of the family.

Head lice are wingless insects that make their home in the hair. Their favourite hiding places are behind the ears and at the back of the neck. Female lice lay their eggs (known as nits) close to the scalp, where they remain firmly stuck to the base of the hair shaft until they hatch in about a week's time.

Head lice actually survive by feeding on blood they suck from the scalp - in a similar way to a mosquito. Unlike mosquitos, it appears head lice do not carry disease.

However, they can cause severe itching and this can lead to scratching and skin infections.

The good news is that if you or your children have head lice, there are simple, safe and effective ways to manage the problem. Various shampoos, lotions, cream rinses and conditioners are available. Your pharmacist can advise you about which is best for you. Head lice can become resistant, and if you have used treatments before it may be desirable to change to one with a different active ingredient.

Head lice are apparently on the increase. No wonder, then, as we search for information about an effective treatment, the Pharmacy Self Care fact card on head lice has become one of the most sought-after.

The recently revised Head Lice Fact Card explains the various treatment options and how to get the best effect from the treatment you choose. The card is one in the series available from all pharmacies providing the Pharmaceutical Society's health information.

The Nitbusters website at is also a good source of information.

Nitbusters is a joint project in NSW between the Health Department, the Department of Education and Training and the Federation of P&C Associations. Nitbusters is aimed not so much at eradicating head lice, because there is no evidence that any one treatment will kill all lice and eggs, but more realistically at identifying and managing head lice.

Remember whatever head lice treatment you choose, a fine-tooth comb is essential to get the nits out and a good hair conditioner will get rid of the knots.

If you find dead lice, the product has worked; but you will need to retreat in 7-10 days to catch the lice that have since emerged from newly hatched eggs. For persistent cases, discuss with your pharmacist whether you need to change the treatment to another with a different active ingredient; and consider a "Nitbuster" program at your school.

In any event call into a Castletown Chemist and pick up the Head Lice Fact Card.

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