21172 Cook Ave Maple Ridge BC V2X 7P8 www.liceclinic.ca 778 984-5423

Screening Results

Please treat immediately: Regardless of which method of treatment you choose, you must manually remove the nits (eggs). We strongly recommend the Wet Combing Method of removal because it is the most effective and completely safe. Chemical and naturally derived treatments, also known as pesticide based shampoos, only address the mature lice. They have no effect on the nits or the newborn nymphs. These must be removed manually, even if you do a chemical treatment. Head lice removal is a process - there is no one-time treatment. The Wet Combing Method focuses on breaking up the life cycle. All live lice and nits are manually removed every few days for 2-3 weeks or until you have two clear comb outs a week apart. Any lice that hatch after the first comb out are easily removed with each subsequent comb out and long before they can reproduce. Head lice cannot become resistant to this method and it is most successful when working with a good lice comb. All combs are not created equally Plastic lice combs are not strong enough for lice and nit removal. Metal combs are always a better choice but you must choose a very high quality comb. We recommend the LiceMeister® nit comb. A good quality comb has metal teeth that are at least 2” long. The teeth of the comb should be rigid and not easily bent. Make sure where the handle and the teeth of the comb meet is sealed. Good combs will save hours of nitpicking and last through hundreds of comb outs. Chemical treatments are available at local pharmacies. These include special lotions, creams or shampoos that are applied to the hair and scalp. However removing the nits is the most important step and must be done even if you use chemical treatments. This is only one of several reasons why we do not recommend this sort of treatment. There is no chemical treatment available that can remove the nits or newborn nymphs (babies). Nit removal is crucial. Find our wet combing instructions at: www.greatervancouverliceclinic.ca/wet-combing-instructions You can call us for free advice at 778 984-5423

In Your Home:

• You only need to clean once – after your first thorough comb out (when you remove the large mature lice).

• You need only address the pillowcase

and sheets, and perhaps give a light vacuum to your sofa if it’s fabric.

• Dehydration kills lice, not water, so

sheets, recently worn clothing or stuffies can go in the dryer for 30 minutes on hot.

• Items that can’t go in the dryer can be

set aside for 24-48 hours. Lice will die in that time.

• There is no need to clean your actual

pillow or mattress as head lice cannot burrow.

• As you’re working on your follow up,

regardless of which method you choose, you should only be finding nymphs and nits, so there’s no need to clean again.

Nits: _____ Live: _____ Both: _____

Dear Parent/Caregiver: _______________________________________ was screened today and was diagnosed with a case of head lice. Live lice and/or nits were found here:

Back of head

Forehead

Right ear Left ear

We only recommend the LiceMeister® lice comb

A top quality comb is essential!

Homes don’t get head lice – people do.

• Head lice are human parasites, and as

such, live only on us. If a louse falls off of the head, it begins to dehydrate immediately and is dead within 24-48 hours

• Lice do not randomly drop off the head into the environment. They know they are safe only on human heads

• Nits (eggs) cannot transfer to others.

They are cemented to the hair shaft.