No matter how careful, clean and particular you are at home, children can very easily get lice from friends and classmates. Here's what you can do

Lice. The very word sends you reaching for your head in dismay. No matter how careful, clean and particular you are at home, children can very easily get lice from friends and classmates. And, don't forget, if you don't catch the parasites in time, your children may unwittingly pass the lice on to you and to other family members.

Check

Make it a matter of routine to check your child's hair for lice once a week. It doesn't take more than five minutes, and the exercise helps you bond with your child as you can spend time combing her hair or giving her a head massage. The earlier you find out your child has lice, the easier it will be for you to get rid of them, and the lesser the chances that the lice may spread.

Don't wait until your child starts scratching her head before you check for lice. Often, your child has had lice for a while before her scalp starts itching, and as a result, lice can go unnoticed for days - unless you check her head regularly.

The best thing you can do to treat lice is to detect it early.

Medicated treatments

Yes, there are medicated treatments in the market that kill the lice, but the problem is that lice are developing immunity to these products all too soon. As a result, stronger and stronger medication is being used every time. Don't kid yourself into thinking that these treatments are safe for your child. They contain pesticides. Mediker, for example, contains the insecticide permethrin, which has been classified as a carcinogen by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, this may not kill the eggs, and as a result, you may be required to use it once a week, for around 3-4 weeks, before all the lice are finally destroyed.

Home remedies

You could try opting for home remedies, but although a lot of people have reported success, an equal number of people have said that home remedies haven't helped. They are, however, worth a try before opting for a pesticide.

Visit any home store that sells essential oils, and pick up a bottle each of rosemary, tea tree and lavender oil. Take 20 drops of each of these oils and put them in measuring cup. Now, add vinegar and double the amount of olive oil so you have half a cup of the mixture. Apply this to your child's scalp and leave on overnight. Wash off the next morning, and apply any leftover mixture to your child's head the next night.

People have also reported positive results using only vinegar and olive oil, so if you cannot find the essential oils, skip them.

Wash

It is likely that your child's bed sheets, pillows, towels etc are infested with lice or nits, so make sure you put them all for a wash. Soak them well in hot water, let them dry in the sun, and iron. Wash all hairbrushes and combs daily, until your child's lice have gone.