Parents urged to check for head lice during national campaign in Norway

Parents are advised to check their children for head lice once a month to detect any infestation early. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health conducts a national lice awareness campaign twice a year, encouraging proactive monitoring. If lice are found, parents should inform their child’s school or kindergarten to prevent larger outbreaks.

Treatment options for lice include purchasing over-the-counter lice medication, daily combing with a lice comb for 14 days, or cutting hair shorter than 0.5 centimeters. Lice are not related to hygiene issues and can affect anyone, regardless of hair type or washing frequency. There is no need to freeze or wash hats, stuffed animals, or bedding during an outbreak, as lice are weakened without their host.

Eirin W. Mykland, a public health nurse, emphasizes that lice do not spread through clothing or bedding, noting that lice become significantly weakened once they are away from the scalp. This month, the National Institute initiated a lice campaign, distributing information to schools and kindergartens, urging children, staff, and parents to check for lice simultaneously to minimize transmission risk.

To check for lice, Mykland recommends combing through wet hair with a lice comb from scalp to ends. Using conditioner can make combing easier. Parents should wipe the comb after each stroke to check for lice, as they begin to move when dried.

If an infestation occurs, Mykland advises using lice medication as the most effective method for removal and suggests combining it with regular combing. It’s important to understand that lice can affect anyone and that hygiene plays no role in their transmission.