Head Lice - Lousey Little
Parasitic Insects
 By Richard
H Ealom
Introduction
Head lice (Pediculus
capitis) are small parasitic insects well adapted to living
mainly on the scalp and neck hairs of human host and are
mainly acquired by direct head-to-head contact with an
infested person's hair, but may infrequently be transferred
with shared combs, hats and other hair accessories.
They get their nutrients by
blood-feeding once or twice each day, and cannot survive for
more than a day or so at room temperature without ready
access to human blood. These parasites can survive up to 30
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) cause 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 of all ages, but children are prone to
infestations because of their habit of playing in close
contact, sharing hats, headphones, combs and brushes,
sleeping bags, stuffed animals, and clothing.
Nits
Head lice eggs are called
nits and are laid by the adult female at the base of the
hair shaft nearest the scalp and look sort of like dandruff,
only they can't be removed by brushing or shaking them off.
The eggs hatch about 7 to 11 days after being laid. Those
further than 1/4 inch away from the scalp have probably
already hatched. Nits are most effectively removed by
combing the hair with a specially designed nit comb. The
eggs can be distinguished from dandruff flakes as they are
extremely adherent to the hair shaft, whereas dandruff can
be 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
observed. A treatment can cause significant side effects in
children younger than 6 months old, the elderly, and anyone
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 under, you should not use medicated
treatments. Your child's doctor may recommend repeating
treatment in 7 to 10 days to make sure all the nits have
been killed and to avoid any risk of reinfestation.
Treatments may be over-the-counter or prescription
medications, depending on what has already been tried. It
isn't uncommon 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
properly.
Medicated shampoos can
usually kill the lice and nits, but it may take a few days
for the itching to stop. Some don'ts include: Don't use a
hair dryer on your child's hair after applying any of the
currently available scalp shampoos, because some contain
flammable ingredients. 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 doctor for keeping the bugs at bay, and you'll
be well on your way to keeping your family lice-free.
If you feel like you're
following every recommendation and your child still has
lice, it may be because of one or more of the following:
there are still some nits left behind, your child is still
being exposed to someone with lice, the shampoo you're using
isn't effective. If your child still has lice for 2 weeks
after you started treatment or if your child's scalp looks
infected (with pus or sores), call your child's doctor.
Vacuuming the carpets, upholstery, and car seats will take
care of any lice that fell off before treatment.
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
annual cost of infestations in the United States was nearly
$1 billion dollars. Girls contract head lice more often than
boys; women more often than men. Anyone can become infested
and the presence of head lice is not the result of unclean
conditions. Although it can be challenging to eliminate, you
must be patient and persistent when dealing with an
infestation.
About the
author:
Richard H. Ealom is the Author of this article and the
creator of "Free Articles On Diseases: How To Prevent and
Cure Them". Need more information Please visit our website @
http://rainydrops.com/a-head-lice/effectivechemical-free-head-lice-treatment-using-melaleuca-oil.php
or
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If you're interested in
more articles about head lice, click here -
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Enjoy!
I wish you all the best on your
head lice adventure!
Best wishes,
Thomas T :)
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