by Richard H Ealom
INTRODUCTION: Head lice (Pediculus capitis) are small parasitic insects well adapted to living primarily on the scalp and neck hairs of human host. They are mainly acquired by direct head-to-head contact with an infested person’s hair, but may occasionly be transferred through the use of shared combs, hats and other hair accessories.
They get their nutrients by blood-feeding once or twice a day, and cannot live for more than a day or so at room temperature without free access to human blood. These parasites can survive up to thirty days on a human holding on to hair with hook-like claws found at the end of each of their six legs. They are rarely found on the body, eyelashes, or eyebrows and rarely (if ever) create direct harm, or transmit infectious agents from person-to-person. Head lice are equal opportunity parasites that do not respect socio-economic class distinctions and can infest people at any age, but children are more apt to infestations because of their habit of playing in near contact, sharing hats, headphones, combs and brushes, sleeping bags, stuffed animals, and clothing.
NITS: Head lice eggs are named nits and are laid by the adult female at the base of the hair shaft nearest the scalp with an appearance sort of like dandruff, only they can’t be removed by brushing or shaking them off. The eggs hatch approximately 7 to 11 days after being laid. Nits further than 1/4 inch away from the scalp have likely already hatched. Nits are most effectively removed by combing the hair with a specially designed nit comb. The nits can be distinguished from dandruff flakes as they are extremely adherent to the hair shaft, whereas dandruff can be very easily moved along the hair shaft.
INFESTATION: Contact with an already infested person is the most common way to get head lice. Less commonly, Wearing clothing, such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, or hair ribbons, recently worn by an infested person. There are four critical steps to controlling an infestation: the use of an effective head louse treatment; nit removal from the head (combing); removal of lice and nits from the household environment by vacuuming, washing, or freezing objects suspected of being infested; and daily head checks and nit removal until infestation is gone, followed by weekly head checks to detect re-infestation. The doctor should be able to tell you if your child is infested with lice and needs to be treated.
TREATMENT: Treatment should be considered ONLY when active lice or viable eggs are found. A treatment can create significant side effects in children younger than six months old, the elderly, and any person weighing less than 110 lbs (50 kg), especially when it is used repeatedly over a short period of time. If your child is 2 years old or less, you should not use medicated treatments. Your child’s physician may recommend repeating treatment in 7 to 10 days to make sure all the nits have been killed and to avoid any chance of reinfestation. Treatments can be over-the-counter or prescription medications, depending on what has already been tried. It isn’t rare for treatments to be unsuccessful because of incorrect use or because the lice may be resistant to the chemical in the shampoo. Following the directions on the product label is also important to ensure that the it works correctly.
Medicated shampoos can usually kill the lice and nits, but it may take a few days for the itching to cease. Some do nots include: Don’t use a hair dryer on your child’s hair after applying any of the currently available hair shampoos, because some contain flammable components. Don’t wash your child’s hair for 1 to 2 days after using a medicated shampoo. Be patient and follow the protocol and preventative tips as directed by your child’s MD for keeping the creatures at bay, and you′ll be well on your way to keeping your family free of lice.
If you feel like you′re following all the recommendations and your child still has lice, it may be because of one or more of the following: there are still some nits remaining behind, your child is still being exposed to someone else with lice, the shampoo you′re using isn’t working. If your child still has lice for 2 weeks after you began treatment or if your child’s scalp looks infected (with pus or sores), contact your child’s MD. Vacuuming the carpets, upholstery, and car seats will take care of any lice that fell off before treatment began.
CONCLUSION: Head lice infect hair on the head and are more common in close, overcrowded living conditions. Infestation causes intense itching, but does not lead to a serious medical problem. They can be spread when infested hair brushes or combs are shared or when infested bedding, towels or shower caps are shared. Head lice is an increasing problem because lice-killing medicines are becoming less effective. Each year, between 6 and 12 million people worldwide become infested. Children ages 3-11 and their families become infested most often. Pets are of no significance in transmitting human lice, and should not be treated.
In one study, the estimated yearly cost of infestations in the USA was nearly $1 billion dollars. Girls get head lice more often than boys women more frequently than men. Anyone can become infested and the presence of head lice is not the result of poor habits. Although it can be challenging to eliminate, you must be steadfast and persistent when dealing with an infestation.
About the Author:
Richard H. Ealom is a writer who has written numerous articles on Diseases, Careprints, Cures. Learn about natural treatments for Head Lice by visiting the
The Most Effective Home Remedies for Head Lice! website. You can reprint this article as long as you leave this box unchanged
