What to do if children have lice

In recent years, sanitary conditions have improved and it is rare for children to have lice on their heads. Of course, individual cases do occur from time to time. If a child has lice, it is necessary to take measures to remove the lice in time. First of all, we must ensure that children have good hygiene habits. You can use white vinegar, tea tree oil and other methods to remove lice, which will not affect the health of children.

1. How to get rid of head lice

You can go to the pharmacy to buy medicine to remove head lice. The ingredients are chrysanthemum extract or similar ingredients. The drug is considered safe but may not be recommended for younger children. These products kill live head lice but not the eggs. Read the instructions carefully, including how long to leave the medication on your hair and how to wash it off. The second course of treatment needs to be carried out 9-10 days later. If two courses of treatment don't work, see a doctor for more powerful treatments.

2. Get rid of lice in your home

Although lice cannot survive on the bed for long, it is best to wash bedding such as sheets and bedspreads. Clothes worn within 48 hours should also be washed in hot water. Some parents will also wash and disinfect the stuffed toys that their children have played with, but experts say this is unnecessary. If your child particularly likes to sleep with a stuffed animal, 20 minutes in the dryer may be enough to kill lice.

3. Family treatment methods

Some people say that mayonnaise, white vinegar, or tea tree oil are effective natural lice removers. It is said that if you apply a thick layer of mayonnaise and put on a shower cap overnight, you can suffocate head lice. The purpose of white vinegar is to dissolve the glue that attaches lice eggs to the hair. However, these home remedies are not backed by scientific evidence, and pediatricians advise that there is no harm in parents adopting these practices, but they should not be used as the primary treatment method.

4. A good tooth comb

Using a good tooth comb is also very helpful. A good comb can pull out head lice and lice eggs. We can find evidence of this from the ancient Egyptians - scientists have discovered combs specifically for removing lice eggs in ancient Egyptian tombs. The disadvantage is that it takes time and patience, and you have to do it over and over again until every last lice egg is combed out of your child's hair. The effect will be better if you comb your hair after washing it with medicine.