You’ve most likely heard of the little critters that like to live (and eat) on human heads, especially of children. You’ve likely even heard of an outbreak in your own school, or of a friend who battled an infestation. It really isn’t a question of health – they’re more nuisance than serious risk, but none-the-less they are quite dreaded.

So your child has lice. What do you do? Toronto public health and the Canadian Pediatric society recommend two topical insecticides that have “very low toxicity to humans”, as well as a secondary choice of lindane for treatment that is “very neurotoxic to lice but also to humans”. While the insecticides may be slightly safer than lindane, they are still likely to have negative effects. Increase in allergies is one such effect, but there is no longer term study that conclusively finds them safe in human children. Another drawback is that the conventional treatments aren’t working as well now – the lice are becoming resistant.

My child’s school board policy require the use of “a specially medicated shampoo”. Before the return to school, I’m to “Notify the school that proper treatment has taken place BY RETURNING THE TOP PART OF THE ATTACHED FORM on the day your child returns to school, and the BOTTOM HALF after the second treatment has been given”. It requires at least two treatments!

Doesn’t that just seem wrong – Putting nasty chemicals on the heads of our young, precious, sensitive, growing children? Much of the chemical is absorbed transdermally through the scalp, and could have latent effects, not appearing for ten or fifteen years. At that time, the link back to the exposure will not be obvious.

As always, prevention is best. Teach your children not to share things, such as combs or hats, or pillows. Just like the social niceties of coughing in your sleeve, and washing your hands, this is the best advice. However, should you find yourself and your child with a lice-induced absence from school, you could (and I would) practice alternative medicine. It’s wonderful that Melaleuca oil (Tea tree oil) has been shown in clinical studies to help eradicate head lice. Repeated applications are not at all harmful to the child. One additional benefit is that regular use of Melaleuca oil helps to repel and thus prevent head lice in the first place.

That’s the route I’m going. Prevention with Melaleuca oil!