TRACEY BENDINGER | Society | Contact
Liz Quarry is giving a double meaning to the term head scratcher at school drop off this morning after overhearing some fellow mums mention a potential nit outbreak. The outbreak is not yet confirmed, but that hasn’t stopped Liz from instantly feeling like her head is crawling with the little nymphs.
Speaking with The Advocate, the mum of two relayed her fear of what a nit outbreak could mean to her thick-haired Lebanese clan.
“Do you see this hair? I’ve got 10 hairs to your one hair. Last time we got nits we went through 3 bottles of KP24. I nearly pulled out the kerosene.”
“It’s like they got tips from the Viet Cong, evading treatments by hiding in a series of cleverly carved out under-scalp tunnels”
While nits can only be spread through head-to-head contact, or by sharing brushes or hats, it’s not uncommon for the mere mention of nits to bring on an incessant itching sensation.
Nits are the eggs of head lice, which are tiny insects that live on the human scalp. They are typically small (around the size of a pinhead), oval-shaped, and can be white or tan in color. Nits take about 7-10 days to hatch into nymphs, which are immature lice. Nits that have already hatched will be empty shells and can be removed with a fine-toothed comb and conditioner, while live nits can be treated with anti-lice products.
If you or someone you know has come into contact with a nit carrier, please cover your hair with a shower cap and head to your closest pharmacy for immediate treatment.
More to come.
