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Doctors stopped prescribing products to treat lice.
And parents are told that this could lead to an epidemic in schools.
A charity warns general practitioners to ask them to stop prescribing treatments.
This is part of efforts by health authorities to try to save £ 100 million a year.
The Mirror reports that this is the first time that new NHS guidelines have been established for the winter.
The itchy insects are spreading rapidly among students while the cash – strapped families face a repeated treatment cost, according to the charity Community Hygiene Concern.
The poorest families will be the hardest hit by the cuts as they are forced to pay £ 13 for over-the-counter medications.
Previously, insecticide treatment cost the NHS £ 4.92.
What does charity say?
Frances Fry, spokesperson for Community Hygiene Concern, told the Observer: "Not everyone can afford to buy repeat treatments for head lice, which are very, very expensive and may be ineffective. "
She added, "Children whose parents can not afford treatment will be victims of violence and intimidation, and all judgments and stigmata will be restored."
And what about the NHS?
An NHS England spokesman said: "This will reinvest up to £ 100 million in better mental health, cancer control and recovery services.
"Clinical experts advise head lice to be treated effectively and safely by wet combing, with chemical treatment recommended only in exceptional circumstances."
The news comes as scientists say that lions have developed a "high level" of resistance to some of the most popular treatments.
Research shows that in at least 25 US states, lice have developed resistance to over-the-counter treatments that are still widely recommended by doctors and schools.
Dr. Kyong Yoon, University of Southern Illinois, said, "We are the first group to collect lice samples from a large number of populations in the United States.
"We found that 104 of the 109 lice populations we tested had high levels of genetic mutations, related to pyrethroid resistance."
What are the slow ones?
Lice can sometimes make you feel your head:
- itchy
- as if something was moving in your hair
The only way to make sure someone has lice is to find live lice or eggs. You can do this by combing your hair with a special fine tooth comb (detection comb). You can buy them online or in pharmacies.
How to get rid of lice
Treat the lice as soon as you see them. You should check everyone at home and treat them the same day if they have lice.
There is no need to keep your child out of school if he has lice.
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Use a lotion or spray to treat lice
You can use medicated lotions and sprays that kill head lice in all types of hair, including afro hair. You can buy these products in pharmacies, supermarkets or online.
The lice must die during the day. Lotions and sprays come with a comb to eliminate lice and dead eggs.
Some treatments must be repeated after one week to eliminate newly hatched lice. Examine the package to see if they are acceptable to you or your child and how long they should stay in the hair.
If lotions or sprays do not work, talk to your pharmacist.
Some treatments are not recommended because they may not work:
- products containing permethrin
- head lice "repellents"
- electric combs for head lice
- tree and plant oil treatments, such as tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and herbal remedies lavender oil
If you do not want to use chemicals
You can buy a special fine tooth comb (comb detection) online or in pharmacies to eliminate lice and nits.
There will be instructions on the package to follow, but usually you:
- use the comb on wet or dry hair – although it usually works best on wet hair with a conditioner
- comb all the hair, from roots to ends
- repeat every few days for 2 weeks
You can not prevent head lice
You can not do anything to prevent lice. You can reduce the risk of lice spread by avoiding direct contact.
Do not use medicated lotions and sprays to prevent lice. This can irritate the scalp.
Children do not need to stay out of school or wash their hot clothes.
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