Bring back the nit nurse? Selfies and hugging blamed as specialist says up to 60% of kids get nits
A headlice specialist has urged the Government to take urgent action in tackling a major outbreak of nits, which she says has now spread to up to 60% of children in national schools as well as babies in creches around the country.
Selfies and technology sharing are also being blamed for the headlice outbreaks which expert Sinead O'Reilly says have now crept into creches and second-level schools.
Sinead has now called for the return of the nit nurse and the roll-out of education workshops to control the infestation of headlice in the hair of up to 60% of children in national schools.
"There is a major infestation right now in our schools. Years ago, you may have seen breakouts at certain school times but in the last number of years, headlice cases have been consistent," she said.
"Children are spending more time together on play dates, hugging, touching heads taking selfies or looking into screens together.
"Headlice need head-to-head contact to be able to move from one host to another."
Sinead, who hails from Rush, Co Dublin, worked for a leading pharmaceutical company for eight years and trained pharmacy staff of best practice when it came to headlice.
She also worked for other headlice experts and is now setting up on her own after being approached by so many parents.
"In the 1980s, parents used to be terrified that their child would be sent home by the nit nurse and so checked their child's head religiously for head lice.
"There were more strict rules and the child was sent home and not allowed back into school until they were treated.
"These days, parents are often too busy to check their childrens heads and the head lice could be there for months before they are noticed as not everyone scratches.
"So the infestation rises and rises and passes on and on.
"It doesn't matter whether you are male or female, have dirty or clean or coloured hair, lice are parasites and all they need is a tiny strand of hair.
"Babies in creches now have head lice. I get so many calls from creches asking what to do.
"It's also now a major problem in second-level schools where it wasn't before and again, it's down to selfies and looking into the same phones or screens."
Sinead wants to see the Government roll out an education programme for teachers, parents and students themselves.
"There needs to be education given on detection, treatment and prevention.
"It's imperative that parents check their child's hair at least once a week to stop the cycle. A louse can live up to 32 days and lay eggs between day 10 and 17.
"We need to try and remove them before they get to that stage.
"Parents should divide the child's hair into eight sections and work each section at a time, going through every strand and pulling out any eggs or lice.
"It does take hours and parents often give up when the child gets restless but they need to stay vigilant and active," she said
Sinead can be found at Headlice Removers Ireland on Facebook.
In a statement the Department for Education and Skills said: "This would be a matter for individual schools to address with parents/guardians rather than the Department.
"The HSE also provides advice on the treatment of headlice."
