Understanding the Basics of Head Lice
The first thing many people say when they hear head lice is Ewww! Having these little critters run around in your hair or even the thought of it is enough to make you want to light a match to your tresses. But how much do you know about these small parasites? Do you know where they come from and how people actually get them? If youre unaware of the basics of head lice, including preventative measures you can take to avoid a hair feast atop your dome, you might want to read this informative article to understand more about this common infestation.
What are Head Lice?
The official name for the infestation of head lice is pediculosis. They are parasites that are found typically on peoples heads (however, they have been found on other hair parts of the body, including the pubic area). There are three forms of lice that can be found on the head; they are the nit, which are lice eggs waiting to hatch they are hard to see and can often be confused with dandruff; nymph, which are babies that grow into adults within about seven days; and adults, clearly those that are full-grown they are sesame seed sized, have six legs and are tan in color living up to 30 days on a persons head.
Head lice infestations are about as common as the number of times youve heard the phrase this means theyre very common. It is estimated that around one in every 10 children acquire the infestation at some point. So who are most vulnerable to this infection? Anyone! That is, anyone who comes in contact with a person infection with them; if you touch the infected person or his or her clothing and personal items you run the risk of catching lice. Most often, young children around the ages of 4-10 years of age are most vulnerable, in addition to girls as opposed to boys. However, it is important to note that while anyone can catch them it is rare that African Americans do.
The way head lice are typically spread is through touching those infested with them; wearing their clothes, using their combs and brushes, lying on their beds or even playing with their stuffed animals can constitute vulnerability.
Symptoms
The symptoms can often be compared to those of other hair issues, and are typically one or more of the following: a feeling of something moving in the hair (which is actually an allergic reaction to the bites), sores on the head from the person scratching constantly, and general irritation. It has also been cited that some sores can turn into infections that cause additional irritation.
Diagnosis
While it may be possible to diagnose an infestation simply be looking in the hair or recognizing the symptoms especially if you or a family member has been previously diagnosed it is always a good idea to seek the attention of a physician to diagnose and treat the infestation.
The best way the health care providers are able to diagnose the infestation of head lice is by searching through the hair to look for nits rather than nymphs and adults because they typically run away from those searching while the nits are stable and located near the scalp. If they find that a nit is located more than one-fourth of an inch away from the scalp, they will determine that the infestation is old. And if they feel you are the victim of an attack and they are not able to find physical proof with the naked eye, they will use a microscope.
Treatment
After the proper diagnosis has been determined, the patient will then be given medicine (there are both over the counter and prescription options) to kill the lice. In addition, the patient will be told to wash all cloths and bedding worn or slept on two days before the treatment started. Then the person will be advised to apply the medicine to his or her scalp.
According to medical professionals, it is important to not use any sort of rinses or shampoo/conditioner combinations before applying the medicine; it is also important to not wash the hair for up to two days after the medicine has been applied. The person must then put on new clothes after being treated and begin to comb out the dead head lice with a nit comb (which is normally provided in the medicine package) over the next few hours. If the lice are not dying then you must see your health care provider again to ask for advice you may need more of the same medicine or a stronger strength. Once it is determined that the lice have died, continue combing out dead ones for 2-3 weeks to ensure theyre all out of your head.
If you are concerned about the head lice that have fallen off of a family members head will infest you or another family member, first know that they cannot live longer than 1-2 days without being able to feed on someones blood. But as a precaution, be sure to wash all clothes and bedding during the infestation period, and store away any items like stuffed animals and clothes that are not being worn in sealed plastic. Also, soak all combs and brushes in rubbing alcohol and vacuum the carpet, sofas and chairs
Avoiding and Infestation in the Future
As mentioned earlier, the best way to avoid getting an infestation after one has subsided is by being very careful to avoid wearing someone elses clothes, including hats, scarves, coats and especially hair bows, stay away from using other peoples combs and brushes, and dont lie on a the bed, couch, pillow, or carpet of a person who you know or suspect is infested.
By knowing the basics of head lice, you can avoid having your own infestation in the future. And while it is very common and, of course, not life threatening, making it a non-end-of-the-world issue, it is still something that makes you say Ewww! which is enough to hopefully make you take the precautionary measures necessary to help you avoid having a head life infestation of your own. Description Tag: Having head lice is no fun to you or anyone else. Learn the basics of this uncomfortable issue, including recognizing the symptoms and getting rid of them.
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