(return to Surrey Communicable Disease Control Service page)
The information here has been posted as a service to people in Surrey and elsewhere. Surrey Health Protection Unit can only answer queries from Surrey residents.
There is very good, brief advice on this subject on the HPA website. I can also strongly recommend Head Lice: a report for Consultants in Communicable Disease Control (CCDCs), which is available on the phmeg web site (follow 'PHMEG documents (guidance, policy, consultation)', and then 'Head lice guidance (Stafford document)'.
Insect R+D (previously known as the medical entomology centre) also have an excellent web site with information on head lice.
Newcastle's City Health Trust has also published head lice advice in English, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu.
The UK Department of Health has produced a leaflet for parents/the public (also available in many languages).
A video has been produced based on this document. Called "Head Lice - a Guide for Schools" it is endorsed by the PHMEG (Public Health Medicine Environment Group - which represents CsCDC, infection control nurses, and environmental health officers). I have watched this video, and can recommend it.
It can be obtained from:
Pink Cow Ltd
113 Liscombe
Birch Hill
Berkshire RG12 7DE
Telephone (between 09:00 and 17:00 UK time) +44 (1344) 867007
Fax +44 (1344) 860217
The video costs £18:50, or £30 for three copies. Bulk orders will qualify for further discounts.
There is also another, shorter video - which I have not yet seen, but which claims to be based on Head Lice: a report for Consultants in Communicable Disease Control (CCDCs) - available (free to health care workers only), from Seton Healthcare. To obtain a copy of this video, please call Mr Ross Beagrie on 01565 624000 ext 4145.