Thursday January 10th/ 2008

12:10: The Health Roundup with Jay, Jamie and Jimmy.

12:20: Brand new Health Matters feature with our favourite local chiropractors.

Guests: Dr. Kathryn Wheatley and Dr. Jim Lamontagne, Regent Health and Chiropractic Centre over on Locke Street.

12:35: Diabetes and foot care go hand in hand. Or, is that foot in foot?

Guest: Dr. Perry Mayer, Mayer Institute for Advanced Diabetic Foot care.

12:45: DayNight Pharmacy segment.

Guest: Hilton

Back to school and Lice problems!!

What are Head Lice? They are also called Pediculus Humamus Capitis ( peh-dick-you-lus hue-man-us cap-ih-tus). Head lice are parasitic insects found on the heads of people. Having lice is a very common problem, and anyone at any age can get them. Anyone who comes on close contact ( especially head-to-head contact) with someone who already has lice is at greatest risk. Occasionally head lice can be acquired from contact with clothings, such as hats or scarves. Statistically girls get lice more often than boys, women more often than men. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting lice. Symptoms and signs of head lice are, tickling felling or something moving in the hair. Itching caused by an allergic reaction to the bites. Irritability. Sores on the head caused by scratching. These sores can become infected. An infestation is diagnosed by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or adults. Nits are head lice eggs. They are very small about the size of a pin head. The female lays the eggs at the base of the hair shaft near the scalp, and can be easily confused as dandruff. They are oval and usually white or yellow. They take one week to hatch. The adult is the size of a sesame seed, and is tan to grayish-white. People with dark hair, the adult will look darker. To live the adult needs to feed on blood, if the adult falls off a person it will die within 2 days. Getting rid of head lice requires treating the individual, the family, and the household. Talk to your pharmacist about getting rid of head lice. Lice can be resistant to some treatments, and the best treatment may be where you live.
Common Myths about head lice:

• Lice Jump. In fact they cannot, they are transferred by contact.
  
• I should use a pesticide in the house. There is no need to clean every inch of the house, the nits that hatch will die without food within 2 days. Concentrate on the bedding, hats, coats, toys and furniture.
  
• Fumigating. Will not be effective as the Lice live on humans and has on effect on unhatched eggs.
• Using petroleum jelly. Is ineffective in destroying nits., and very difficult to remove from the hair.
  
• Mayonnaise will kill lice. No, also ineffective.
  
• Need to shave the head. Can help the problem, but will be traumatic to the child or individual.
• Lice are dangerous and carry disease. Lice is not a serious health risk.
  
• Once you kill lice you are done. Lice eggs will hatch 7-10 days, if not removed likely to be re-infested.
• You will know right aways if you have lice. It takes the immune system to develop a sensitivity to lice saliva. By the time you find out , several generations are in residence.
  
• FACT; Lice will die at temperatures over 130 degrees. Should wash clothing in hot water or using a dryer.
  
• FACT; Over 80% of Canadian schools will have lice break-outs each year.
• FACT; African-Americans generally do not get lice. The hair shaft are as such it is difficult for lice to adhere to.