Head Lice Facts and Treatment

27 October, 2009 No Comment

Head lice are a very common condition among people. Most of the people assume that head lice can only affect people with unclean heads. They also believe that head lice fly or jump. However, the fact is that anyone can get head lice. No matter what level of personal hygiene does a person follow, head lice can infest anybody. Let’s delve deep into the problem of head lice and its treatment.
Head lice are parasitic insects. They make the hair and scalp of humans their home. It may sound quite disgusting that a head louse feed on human blood. The insect is grey, brown, or yellow in color and have six legs.

Scientifically named Pediculus humanus capitis, head louse lay eggs that are called nits. Nits are generally small and are often mistaken for dandruff. Oval in shape, nits are either yellow or white in color. After a week or so, nits hatch and develop into nymph.

Nymphs are immature adult head louse. It takes approximately one week for the nymph to develop into adult louse that are about the size of fenugreek seeds, has three-paired legs, and is usually grey or white in color.

A person may follow a thorough hair care program, but that doesn’t mean that he is not prone to head lice. There are various reasons for a person to get head lice.

Some of the major causes of head lice are: close contact with a person already having head lice, infested clothes, comb, hairbrushes, scarves, and towels, etc. Inanimate objects like beds, sofas, etc. may also cause another person to get affected with head lice. If a head louse falls off from another person’s head, it can still live for two days.

Anybody can be infested with the louse in those two days if gets into contact with the object. Direct contact with an infested person is the major cause of head lice. Head lice can spread very easily.

Children are more prone to head lice those who come in contact with other children at school or at play. There are fair chances of somebody being infested with head lice and hence it easily gets transferred.

There are a couple of symptoms when suffering from head lice. A person having head lice will suffer itching and irritation. The itching is caused due to the person’s allergic response to the head lice which bites when feeding itself.

The best treatment of head lice is prevention. Once you find that you or any other family member having head lice should immediately start prevention measures. Diagnose the heads of each member of the family so that you know how many of them need head lice treatment.

Use a nit comb to get rid of lice. Next, get a lice-killing medicine. The affected person should be given a clean towel dry the hair. After using the medicine, you may still find live lice. But you will also notice that they are moving quite slowly.

You just need to comb your hair, with heads down and a towel on your lap. As you comb gently, you will how dead and live lice falling. Apply the medicine once in every seven to ten days. Remember not to use regular shampoo or conditioner immediately after using lice-killing medicine.