Because medicine is personal …

Remember those school picture days?  You know – when the photographer had a box of black combs and everyone used them and then threw them back in box?  Yuck!!!  You will not find that today, but head lice is still a problem in school, but one that is avoidable.  Read on to find out more…

Rid Yourself of Head Lice

By Maggie Brintle, PharmD Candidate and Jennifer Anderson, PharmD, MBA

Most parents cringe when they hear the words “head lice” mentioned, especially when it’s associated with their child or one of their classmates.  However, truth be known, head lice (medically known as pediculosis), is very common and can happen to anyone.  There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.  Often times, head lice is identified by the school nurse when children are back in school after the summer and December breaks. 

What are head lice and nits?

Head lice are small, wingless insects that live on the human scalp.  They are about the size of sesame seeds, reddish brown in color, and can be identified by inspecting the scalp with a magnifying glass and plenty of light. 

Nits are the empty eggshells left behind when lice hatch from eggs. Dandruff, sand, and flakes of hairspray are commonly mistaken for eggs or nits. Eggs and nits are not easily removed and must be carefully combed out with a fine-toothed comb.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom of head lice is itching.  If you notice your child scratching his or her head often, especially behind the ears or the back of the neck, check for lice.  However, itching is not always present. You should also look for red marks on the scalp and neck.

How do you get head lice?

Anyone can get head lice – it has nothing to do with cleanliness or poor hygiene.  Head lice actually prefers clean hair.  Head lice are common among school-age children, particularly those in elementary schools (between the ages of 5 and 12). Head lice is transmitted from one person to another through close head-to-head contact or from sharing personal items such as hats, combs, brushes, headphones, towels, pillows, etc. For head lice prevention it is important to avoid sharing these items.  Pets can be carriers but cannot become infested themselves, lice feed only on human blood.

How to check for head lice?

The best way to check for head lice is to examine the infested person’s head under bright, natural light.  Head lice may be hard to identify because they move quickly and are very small.  It is helpful to examine the head from different angles of light.  This is easily done by moving around your child while examining.  To inspect the head, part the hair around the back of the neck and behind the ears.  To find the eggs and nits, look for small white or yellowish-brown specks that are about the size of sesame seeds and are attached to the hair shaft near the scalp.

To tell the difference between eggs and dandruff, try to force them out of the hair.  If they are not easily removed, they are probably eggs.

How is head lice treated?

Head lice is very treatable.  A variety of over-the-counter products are available that can be used to treat head lice.  These products contain one of the following active ingredients – permethrin or pyrethrins.  They include the brand names – Rid, Nix, Pronto, Clear Lice System, and several other brand names.  They are available in the form of shampoos, lotions, rinses, and mousses.  It is important to read all directions prior to using any of these products and to consult a healthcare professional if needed.

When used as directed, these products can be very effective in treating head lice.  If all nits are not gone after the first treatment, the product should be reapplied.  The scalp and hair should be examined for at least 7 to 10 days.  If head lice infestation continues after a second application, patients should contact their healthcare provider immediately for other treatment options.

How can I prevent reexposure?

• Avoid head-to-head contact during play and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere. Lice are spread most commonly by direct head-to-head contact and much less frequently by sharing clothing or belongings onto which lice or nits may have crawled or fallen.
• Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes.
• Do not share infested combs, brushes, or towels.
• Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, rugs, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an infested person.

I love that television commercial about talking to your doctor.  You know the one.  It shows scenarios where individuals pepper others with questions – a waitress, school teacher, etc., but when that same individual is seeing a doctor pure silence, no questions.  Even though the commercial places a humorous spin on this problem, the scenario is very common.  Patients tend to feel overwhelmed, confused, and perhaps even nervous when seeing their doctor. The amount of time a doctor spends with the average patient is not very long; therefore, you, the patient, need to use your face-to-face time with your doctor wisely.  Here are some helpful hints for making sense of all the information:

1.  Write down questions BEFORE you visit your doctor.  You may become confused and forget everything you wanted to ask.  Have your questions on paper and bring a notepad and pen to jot down the answers.  Or even put the info in an electronic devic. Don’t worry what your doctor might think.  You are the patient and you need to be informed.
2. Bring a list of prescription and non-prescription medications. This list should be current and include the name of the medication, the dose, frequency and any special instructions that accompany that medication.  Don’t forget to list your medication allergies and those medications you may take not prescribed by your physician.  Over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies and supplements can often interact with prescription medications, so don’t forget to include these medications on your list! Your doctor needs to know everything you are taking.  This is where we come in.  Tanglewood Pharmacy can provide you with a list of your current medications.  That way you can take the list in to your doctor, or better yet, make a copy to include in your chart.  Get to know your pharmacist and have a home pharmacy where all that information is together.
3. Invite a friend. Now, I know a doctor’s appointment may not be your idea of a great time.  However, if you are comfortable with a friend or family member accompanying you to your appointment, ask them to come along.  This friend can help advocate for you as a patient as well as help ask questions and remember responses from your doctor.  Many times the patient’s brain may become overloaded with information, but a friend can help you re-create the scenario once you get home.

Welcome to the – the blog for Tanglewood Pharmacy in Clemmons, NC.  We are so proud to be here and OPEN in Clemmons.  On this blog we will provide information regarding pharmacy, medications, health, as well as many other things.  We hope you will find our blog posts both interesting and helpful.  Feel free to come by and see us in person at Tanglewood Pharmacy – 4172 Clemmons Road, Clemmons. 

If you are here, you have probably already checked out our website www.tanglewoodrx.com.  Also follow Tanglewood Pharmacy on Twitter and Facebook.

Welcome to “Weekly Dose,” the blog page for Tanglewood Pharmacy.