Checking for head lice with a nit comb

December 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment

This is the most effective way to check for the presence of head lice. There are several steps that you should use to do this effectively:

• ideally wear disposable gloves to avoid cross-contamination
• find a well lit room. With direct light shining onto the scalp it is easier to see the head louse eggs, nits and any movement of head lice on the scalp. If good natural light is not available, a strong light is the next best alternative.
• brush or comb through the hair to get rid of all the tangles. Tangles can often be a place where lice lurk…especially if near the nape of the neck.
• if the person doing the examination needs corrective spectacles to see effectively, these should be used. Otherwise, a maginifying glass may be helpful.
• Divide the hair into sections approximately an inch wide. Pin back the section of hair not being examined to avoid cross contamination. Likewise, once a section has been examined, pin it to the hair that has already been checked.
• With each section of hair, use a fine toothed nit comb (plastic or metal) and comb it firmly and slowly through the hair from the scalp to the end of the hair shaft. The finer the gap between the teeth of the nit comb, the more effective it is at removing lice, nymphs, eggs and nits. Dip the comb into a cup of water after each section is combed. If debris of eggs, nits and lice biulds up between the teeth, clean them off with a nail brush, tooth brush or piece of dental floss to avoid spreading lice from a combed section to another part of the scalp.
• Continue with this process until the entire scalp has been combed.
• Should you find no lice on this occasion, do not be complacent. If there is a head lice infestation in your child’s school, regular checks are important and combing is your first line of defense.