Head lice are often spread among schoolchildren by contact clothing or hairbrushes. It is contagious among family members and so all should be treated at the same time. Bedclothes, hairbrushes, Hats and other garments should be steeped and washed.
Head Lice and Neem
Neem has hormone mimics that interfere with the life cycle of parasites, inhibit their ability to feed and prevent the eggs from hatching.
Shampoos incorporating neem followed by neem-based cream to the hair and scalp has proven to work in clearing the lice on both adults and children with no side effects.
This year Dr Mary Tatner and Mari Dudgeon of the University of Glasgow investigated the prevalence of head lice in school children, and the effectiveness of Neem Seed extract in treating lice. School nurses examined the heads of 581 children in 6 Glasgow schools, and found that more than 1 in 20 children had head lice. The researchers then tested Neem Seed extract in the laboratory and found that it killed 90% of the lice in 22 hours. This means that parents using a shampoo containing Neem Seed extract are likely to see a result within a day.
Neem extracts have been shown to rid the body of head lice in three very important and distinct ways. First of all Neem contains hormone mimics that interfere with the life cycle of parasites. Secondly Neem inhibits the parasites ability to feed, giving rise to the term anti-feedant. Finally and very importantly Neem prevents louse eggs from hatching.
Using Neem shampoo regularly helps to keep the hair healthy. It may also help prevent infestation with lice.
During school term keep a check on children's hair. Fine comb regularly to insure there are no lice or eggs. Avoid using harsh chemicals on young children.
An indication that lice are present is if the child's hair is dull and lifeless, if the child is scratching and irritable or if you see anything on the scalp.
Warning....
Conventional Head Lice treatments contain toxic chemicals
Could a chemical be that deadly?
For fear of attack by Saddam Hussein, most Israeli hospitals have antidotes to a deadly nerve gas developed by Nazi chemists which contains organophosphate(OP). A closely related compound is the insecticide found in head lice lotions. The same family of insecticides is suspected of driving prion diseases like BSE and CJD. For example: the vast bulk of the cattle found staggering around in British fields with their brains burned out, have been treated for warble-fly with these insecticides..
Side effects in humans using these insecticide lotions range from slight irritation to the eyes and skin to serious skin disorders, respiratory conditions, blood disorders, neurological disorders and even death.
A study in 1997 by the Health & Safety Executive and Dr Vyan Howard of Liverpool University found that head lice insecticides used on children contain enough organophosphate to put them five times over government safety limits, and that repeated use may damage the nervous system.
Health hazards
All of the pesticides used against head lice are toxic at high levels and there is concern about frequent exposure to lower levels. Malathion is a case in point - many health effects have been noted from malathion and its contaminants or breakdown products. Heavy exposure brings on symptoms of dizziness, excessive salivation, urination, headaches, nausea, diarrhea, convulsions, muscle weakness, incoordination, abdominal cramps, slowed heart beat, respiratory depression, paralysis, and coma. There are reports of deaths, poisoning, intestinal disorders, leukemia, near sightedness and kidney damage after aerial spraying of malathion. From animal and in vitro tests, there is evidence of intestinal disorders, weakened immune system, lung damage, birth defects, chromosome damage, behavioral and reproductive effects..
From the Californian Division of Communicable Disease Control
Lindane, used since the 1950s, is both the least effective and, by far, the most toxic. Even though the "old is standby" Kwell® is no longer produced, other lindane-based products are still available and still require a prescription. Since 1983, the NPA has maintained that the potential toxicity of lindane far outweighs its possible benefits as a pediculicide. Among the adverse effects reported to the NPA's register are seizures, behavioral changes, neuromuscular complaints, attention deficit disorders, chronic skin eruptions, and death. It was stated in California Morbidity (April 17, 1987, #14) that: "Given that 1% lindane shampoo (Kwell®, etc.) is less effective and has more potential toxicity than the easily available alternatives, there is no reason to continue prescribing this material for the control of head lice in California."
Lindane
Prepared in the context of cooperation between the International Programme on Chemical Safety and the Commission of the European Communities..
LONG-TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL AND
NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS
OF LINDANE POISONING
The following case is of an individual who was acutely intoxicated with Kwell, an anti-scabies agent, which employs lindane as its active ingredient. Although her initial symptoms were indicative of severe lindane poisoning, what makes the case important are the prolonged and clearly related neurological and psychological symptoms that she experienced for 20 months following her initial poisoning..
Lindane isn't cool for the environment
Lindane is an ingredient in prescription products used to treat head lice and the skin mite scabies. Lindane head lice shampoos are often called KWELL. No matter what they are called, they are harmful to the environment. When misused, they can actually hurt kids. Safe and effective alternatives to lindane are available, and prevention and early detection techniques for head lice may be used.
What does the Merck Index say about lindane?
According to the Centennial Edition of the Merck Index, poisoning with lindane may occur by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption; possible acute symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, weakness, convulsions, dyspnea, cyanosis circulatory collapse. The Merck Index states "Lindane and other hexachlorocyclohexane isomers may reasonably be anticipated to be carcinogens."
