With school starting and winter ahead Regional Manager for Public Health with Southern Health says lice can be an issue.

Bev Unger says their biggest message is prevention, adapting a 'no share' policy when it comes to items such as toques, baseball camp, combs and scarves. Unger adds she encourages parents to check their child's head at least once per week for any signs of lice.

"Just take a look through the hair quite closely. Head lice can lay their eggs anywhere on the head but the common spaces would be where it's warm. So around the ears and at the nape of the neck. Rarely will you actually see the bug, but we see the egg that looks like a tiny bit of rice, sort of that coloring and it's attached firmly to the base of the hair shaft."

Unger adds there are a variety of treatment shampoos and it's best to read the insturctions carefully before use or ask a pharmacist. She says if there is lice in your home it's best to launder anything that may have come into contact with the lice including pillow cases, stuffed animals as well as thoroughly vacuuming the house.

There has been mention of super lice, Unger says she's not surprised.

"If you use the same product over and over again eventually bugs and viruses can mutate a bit and they become resistant to treatment," notes Unger.

She adds although lice are a nuisance they do not carry disease.