Nit Picking: Treating Your Child for Lice

An estimated 6 million American kids in elementary school contract head lice, or pediculosis, every year. Lice treatments, such as Kwell™, that contain the insecticide lindane are available only by prescription; they may cause seizures in some children. Lindane is neurotoxic and may be hormone-disrupting, and accumulates in body fat and breast milk. Less toxic, pyrethrin-based insecticidal shampoos such as Rid™ and Nix™ kill most lice, but they don't always kill the nits, or eggs, which hatch and reinfest the head. Since pyrethrins are mildly toxic, and lice are showing increasing resistance to all insecticidal treatments, parents should avoid them. Nor should you fumigate, which disperses harmful vapors into the air.

Nontoxic coconut- or olive-oil-based treatments do work, but only if combined with the vital key to lice relief: thorough nit picking. (Note: Do not use oil or hair creams after using pesticide-based treatments.) "Separating all lice and nits from your child's head is the goal," says Deborah Altschuler, president of the National Pediculosis Association (NPA). She recommends checking your child's head once a week for early detection. If you do see lice, use a fine-tooth metal comb, such as LiceMeister™ (about $15 from NPA and some pharmacies); the pliability of plastic lice combs allows nits to remain on hair. Apply hot water, then oil-based shampoo or soap. Scrub, then rinse. Shampoo again but do not rinse; wrap head in a towel for 20 minutes. The oil may suffocate lice, but not necessarily, so you must still delouse with the lice comb before rinsing out the shampoo. Wash all bedding and clothing in hot water, then dry on high heat for 30 minutes, and vacuum floors vigilantly. Remerber to check the heads of all family members.