Head lice facts

Head lice do not usually cause health problems, and are not dangerous Insecticides cannot prevent people from catching head lice Regular use can lead to some head lice becoming immune to certain insecticides Head lice do not jump but crawl from head to head There are a number of head lice treatment options available from pharmacies

Dr Simon Fradd, DPP chairman, said: "Encouragingly 90% of respondents knew that head lice don't only like dirty hair.

"However, one in six of the 65-plus age group thought that head lice only like dirty hair which is worrying because grandparents often play an important part in the kinds of messages children pick up.

"Being open and accepting the fact that head lice are likely to happen to your children or grandchildren is an important first step towards addressing and managing the problem effectively."

Dr Robert Aston, a consultant in communicable disease control for Bolton Health Authority, said: "Head louse infection is much more a social problem than a threat to health, but it does cause considerable anxiety and disruption to families."

Dr Nigel Hill, a medical entomologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said he was not surprised by the results of the survey.

"One of the biggest problems surrounding the issue of head lice is a lack of understanding by both the general public and many health professionals."

The DPP has produced a leaflet on how to deal with head lice which is being distributed to GP surgeries throughout the UK.

The survey was based on responses from 1,000 people.