Embarrassed parents tell little lice lies

PARENTS are sometimes so embarrassed about admitting their children have head lice they are refusing to tell the school principal about an infestation.

family

PARENTS are sometimes so embarrassed about admitting their children have head lice they are refusing to tell the school principal about an infestation.

About 23 per cent of children have the small, blood-sucking insects crawling around their scalps at any time, according to NSW Health.

Despite their prevalence, many parents are not comfortable talking about head lice to their school or other parents and some are so embarrassed they refuse to raise the topic at all.

A head lice survey of more than 1000 Australian mothers found 48 per cent don't always tell their school when their child has head lice. It found 57 per cent were not comfortable talking about the issue, and 72 per cent felt their school had a chronic or continual problem with lice.

Michelle Morgan said her sons Lachlan, 5, and Campbell, 4, had not had head lice but she was ready for when they do.

"We have begun planning and have bought treatments for when the inevitable infestation occurs," she said.

"I have spoken to other parents whose kids have had head lice and they just say to get on to it early and treat it early."

Hair salon Kidz Lidz said the number of infestations was rising and more parents wanted professional treatment to break the cycle of re-infestations.