About Head Lice
Head lice are parasitic insects that feed on human blood. Louse bites cause intense itching, which is the most common symptom of a head lice infestation. Head lice spread easily from one person to another, which makes infestation widely endemic, especially in schools, day cares and other places where children or adults spend significant time in close contact with each other.
Significance
Although head lice are not carriers of infectious diseases, bites can become irritated and infected, and untreated infestations may result in hair loss. In severe cases, secondary infections may occur, such as impetigo and pyoderma. Rarely, fever and swelling of the local lymph nodes may occur. Once a head lice infestation is established, it is very difficult to eradicate. This makes recurrence likely.
Identification
Head lice are most commonly seen on children between the ages of 3 and 10. Entire families may become infected due to close contact and the sharing of towels, bedding, and hair accessories. Human lice do not occur on animals, and because they have no wings and are unable to jump, they require direct contact to spread from one person to another. Mature lice are approximately the size of a sesame seed and are pale colored with darker markings on their abdomens. Eggs, or nits, are very small and gray or white in color.
Effects
In addition to causing itching, irritation and possible infection, a head lice infestation can result in considerable embarrassment and social isolation in young children. Because many schools have a no-nit policy, which requires immediate removal of a child from school grounds if that child is found to have an infestation, it is obvious to classmates which students have lice. The social fallout of this can be damaging to the self-esteem of young children.
Misconceptions
Contrary to what many people believe, unwashed hair is not more prone to becoming infested with head lice. In fact, head lice prefer clean, dry hair, as it provides a more suitable and secure location for nits to grow and hatch. Shampooing regularly does not protect against head lice, and regular shampoos are not an effective treatment for head lice.
Prevention/Solution
A number of treatments exist for killing or removing head lice from the scalp and hair, including special combs, chemical treatments and shampoos, natural treatments, home remedies and the application of silicone-based lotions. Generally, head lice are treated using medicated shampoos. After shampooing, a special comb is used to remove any remaining lice and nits from the hair. To prevent reinfestation, all clothing, bedding, stuffed animals and other fabrics should be laundered in hot water. Preventing infestation or reinfestation requires frequent examinations of the hair and scalp using a louse comb. The earlier an infestation is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.
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