HEALTH bosses have dismissed claims that headlice are on the march in Bury following their study of the problem.

A prevalence study commissioned by Bury and Rochdale Health Authority shows that local schoolchildren as a whole do not have a higher than average problem with headlice.

However, four out of 67 schools examined in the Bury area did have a higher prevalence of lice and health bosses say they are dealing with the problem.

Five-minute examinations of the heads of more than 1,200 randomly chosen children were carried out in Bury and Rochdale after consent from parents.

It was found that 7.5 per cent of children had live lice - similar to the average national figure.

Dr Leroy Benons, locum consultant in communicable disease control, said: "We needed to find out the scale of the headlice problem in Bury and Rochdale as we had received several complaints from parents who claimed headlice were on the increase locally."

The survey, which began in January, was the first research carried out in the area to assess the extent of the problem.

Dr Benons said: "Parents should remain vigilant of the signs of headlice, and the health authority and health professionals are at hand to offer advice and support. "This study shows that the problem is not of the magnitude, nor sufficiently widespread, to warrant any new policy or strategy."

Dr Benons said that the health authority would continue to promote knowledge about headlice and management of the problem among GPs, teachers and parents.

The results of the study have not convinced the health watchdog, Bury Community Health Council. It is calling for the return of "Nitty Nora" - the name given to the old-time inspection nurse in schools.

Mr Paul Reynolds, CHC chief officer, said: "I cannot agree or disagree with their findings. But our own research suggests there is a problem, and in the last two years we have had a number of complaints from parents and schools about headlice."

Mr Reynolds said the public view was that there was a problem with headlice in Bury.

"The public are clearly worried and we want to see the health authority and the education department doing everything they can to mitigate the problem.

"The CHC will continue to highlight the concerns of the public and we feel that more work still needs to be done to tackle this problem."

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