Nursery World - No to nits

The bugs are on the rampage, but there's no need to send children home, says Karen Sullivan Head lice, or 'nits' (as the eggs of this tiny parasite are called) have as many parents tugging their hair in frustration, as they do children scratching. And not surprisingly - one in ten nursery and primary school children acquire head lice each year, and about 63 per cent of schools are affected by outbreaks.

Head lice, or 'nits' (as the eggs of this tiny parasite are called) have as many parents tugging their hair in frustration, as they do children scratching. And not surprisingly - one in ten nursery and primary school children acquire head lice each year, and about 63 per cent of schools are affected by outbreaks.

What is more, because traditional methods of eradicating the pests have relied upon insecticides, to which many lice are now resistant, there are more cases than ever, and many treatments are largely ineffective because they are used incorrectly or the lice in question have developed an immunity to the product.

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