Academic paying for lice

From:

http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/news/story.aspx?brand=Westonmer...


A NORTH Somerset academic is offering to pay for children's head lice.

Dr Gerald Coles will pay parents £20 if he finds at least 20 of the parasites on their offspring's heads.

He will make a personal visit to lice-affected families and comb lice from their youngsters' hair.

Dr Coles, who is based at Bristol University's department of veterinary Science in Langford, said: "If the parents can let us collect some head lice then we can test the shampoo to ensure it works."

His record harvest was from a girl who had more than 4,000 lice in her hair, but he expects to be able to find the 300 lice he needs from the heads of five children.

However, the study does not merely want nits, which are the eggs, he needs lice.

He added: "It's a popular misconception, but the lice are the living version, while the nits are just the un-hatched parasites."

The lice are needed to test a new additive-free lice shampoo, which is being developed by a Texan company.

As well as cash payment, parents will also be given a bottle of coconut oil anti-lice shampoo as a reward for taking part in the study.

Anybody interested in the programme should contact Kathryn Stafford on 0117 9289418 or Dr Gerald Coles on 01179 289418.



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