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Expert Q&A

	By Deborah Z. Altschuler Lice Expert

How often should I check my child's head for nits?

The National Pediculosis Association (NPA) encourages parents by helping them to understand the importance of screening often, detecting head lice and nits (lice eggs) as early as possible and removing them safely and effectively. Parental checking can be part of the child's personal hygiene care at home.

Screenings are with little disruption and most easily done as part of the child's normal routine – after bathing or showering when their hair is to be combed anyway. There are effective combing tools designed for this purpose. The NPA recommends the LiceMeister comb because it is considered the gold standard for not only assuring that one is free of lice and nits at the earliest possible juncture, but also for a method of treatment without the use of chemicals or potentially harmful pesticides. Routine combing with such a tool gives parents control of head lice rather than the other way around."

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