Head lice, or ukus as they’re more commonly known in Hawaii, are an anxiety provoking issue for parents and the topic seems to come up year after year. Let’s start the year off right and make sure we’re all in the know when it comes to ukus and how to deal with them.
Q: What are ukus?
A: Ukus are tiny 2-3mm insects that live close to the scalp. They feed on blood from the scalp and cannot live away from their food source for more than 24 hours. They cannot jump or fly and they do not spread any diseases.
Q: Who is at risk for ukus?
A: Anyone can get ukus regardless of hair length, cleanliness, or where they live or play. They are most common among preschool and elementary aged children.
Q: How are ukus spread?
A: Ukus cannot hop or fly. They crawl. Most cases of ukus are spread by direct head-to-head contact with an infested individual. It’s possible, but much less likely, to transmit ukus through indirect objects like combs, brushes, hats, etc. A healthy uku is not likely to leave a healthy head unless there’s a heavy infestation.
Q: How are ukus diagnosed?
A: Finding a live uku is the gold standard for diagnosing ukus. Nits can also be a sign of ukus. Nits are the uku eggs that are glued to the hair shaft close to the scalp. Look behind the ears and the nape of the neck to find them. It’s easy to confuse nits with dandruff and other hair products but nits are more difficult to remove since they’re glued to the hair shaft.
Q: How do I treat ukus?
A: The most effective treatment for ukus is over-the-counter permethrin 1% or Nix.
- Apply to damp hair that is first shampooed and then towel dried.
- Leave it on for 10 minutes and then rinse it off.
- Once this is done, then manually comb out the nits before they hatch and start the whole process over again.
- It is recommended to repeat this shampoo treatment in 7-10 days.
Q: Where can I get uku shampoo?
A: Uku shampoo can be purchased over the counter at your local drugstore or grocery store. You can also check with your child’s primary care provider to see if they can prescribe it. Or, check with your Hawaii Keiki APRN Zoë Shih to see if there are community agencies that may be able to purchase it for you.
Q: What about natural remedies for ukus?
A: There is no clear scientific evidence to show that natural or home remedies for ukus are effective. The most studied and most effective treatment is as stated above, permethrin 1% or Nix.
Q: Does the whole family need to be treated?
A: No, only those that show signs of ukus. Make sure to check all close contacts once someone is diagnosed with ukus in the home however only those with an active infestation need to be treated.
Q: Do I have to clean my whole house?
A: It’s important to treat household items or personal belongings that came into contact with the head of the person with ukus in 24 to 48 hours before treatment started. Carpeting, rugs, furniture, car seats and other fabric covered items can be vacuumed. Items such as clothing can be washed at temperatures greater than 130 degrees F to kill stray ukus or nits. Items that cannot be washed can be bagged in plastic for 2 weeks.
Q: Why does my child keep getting ukus?
A: Treatment failure is the number one reason for repeated occurrences of ukus. Refer to the shampoo instructions listed above and don’t forget about household cleaning too.
Q: How can we prevent getting ukus?
A: It can be helpful to tie or braid your child’s long hair, keep it short or even slick it back in order to make it harder for ukus to grab on. You can also check your child’s hair at least once a week so that if your child does have ukus then you’ll catch it early and be able to treat it quickly.
