To survive, an adult head louse must feed on blood. They can live for approximately 30 days on a person’s head. If they fall off, they will die within 1 to 2 days.
Head lice cannot fly or jump, but sometimes they can be transmitted on personal items, so it is sensible to avoid sharing brushes, combs, headbands, headphones, towels, clothing, or hats with anyone who has an active infestation.
An infestation does not result from dirty hair or poor hygiene, and it can occur in hair of any length or condition.
Head lice can be passed from children to adults nd vice versa
Head lice may be able to survive under water for several hours, and chlorine levels in a swimming pool do not kill them. However, they are unlikely to be spread through pool water. They tend to hold tightly to hair when submerged in water.
Head lice are not a health hazard, a sign of poor hygiene, or a cause of disease. They are common in primary school-age children and can spread to the rest of the household.
Adult head lice are about one-eighth of an inch long,and they live up to 30 days. Head lice can live around 1 to 2 days away from the host. Female head lice are larger than males and can lay around 8 eggs each day. Lice will appear darker if they occur in darker hair
A louse injects saliva into the host while feeding to prevent blood from clotting. This can result in an allergic, itching sensation for the host.Apart from this, head lice do not transmit disease, and they are not dangerous.
Head lice or nits are often found near the neckline at the back of the head and behind
Fast facts on head lice
Here are some key points about head lice. More detail is in the main article.
Head lice move easily between hairs, at a rate of 9 inches a minute, but they cannot fly or jump.
The lice need human blood to survive, and they starve within 2 days if they are removed from their host.
Head lice are usually caught directly from another person through direct head-to-head contact.
Diagonsis
When an infestation is found in a healthy child, it usually involves fewer than 20 mature lice.
Head lice are visible with the naked eye, but they can be difficult to see, even on close inspection. Nits can easily be confused with dandruff, hair spray droplets, or dirt particles.
As a result, misdiagnosis is common. Nits can remain glued to hair long after the live lice have been removed. Unhatched eggs and empty shells may remain after a live infestation is successfully treated.
A diagnosis can be confirmed if a live louse is found crawling on the head, but this can be difficult because lice avoid light and they can crawl quickly.
A fine-toothed louse comb may help identify live lice. The comb works better on wet hair, but can also be used on dry hair to trap even small lice.
Symptoms
Itching, the most common symptom of all types of lice infestation, is caused by an allergic reaction to louse saliva.
This is due to an allergic reaction to louse saliva. Some people are extremely sensitive to louse bites and have severe itching. Others are not allergic to the saliva, or they build up a tolerance and have little or no itching,
Some people do not experience itching for the first 2 to 6 weeks of an infestation, as it can take this long to become sensitized.
As a result, the infestation may remain unnoticed.
Other symptoms may include:
Tickling or a sensation of something moving in the hair
Difficulty sleeping
Sores on the head from scratching
Home remedies
A fine-toothed comb can be used to help detect lice
Before receiving any prescribed medications, there are steps that can be taken to treat a head lice infestation.
Wet-combing
Here are some key points about head lice. More detail is in the main article.
Head lice move easily between hairs, at a rate of 9 inches a minute, but they cannot fly or jump.
The lice need human blood to survive, and they starve within 2 days if they are removed from their host.
Head lice are usually caught directly from another person through direct head-to-head contact.
Diagonsis
When an infestation is found in a healthy child, it usually involves fewer than 20 mature lice.
Head lice are visible with the naked eye, but they can be difficult to see, even on close inspection. Nits can easily be confused with dandruff, hair spray droplets, or dirt particles.
As a result, misdiagnosis is common. Nits can remain glued to hair long after the live lice have been removed. Unhatched eggs and empty shells may remain after a live infestation is successfully treated.
A diagnosis can be confirmed if a live louse is found crawling on the head, but this can be difficult because lice avoid light and they can crawl quickly.
A fine-toothed louse comb may help identify live lice. The comb works better on wet hair, but can also be used on dry hair to trap even small lice.
Symptoms
Itching, the most common symptom of all types of lice infestation, is caused by an allergic reaction to louse saliva.
This is due to an allergic reaction to louse saliva. Some people are extremely sensitive to louse bites and have severe itching. Others are not allergic to the saliva, or they build up a tolerance and have little or no itching,
Some people do not experience itching for the first 2 to 6 weeks of an infestation, as it can take this long to become sensitized.
As a result, the infestation may remain unnoticed.
Other symptoms may include:
Tickling or a sensation of something moving in the hair
Difficulty sleeping
Sores on the head from scratching
Home remedies
A fine-toothed comb can be used to help detect lice
Before receiving any prescribed medications, there are steps that can be taken to treat a head lice infestation.
Wet-combing
Combing wet hair with a fine-toothed nit comb may remove lice and
some nits. Research is inconclusive on the effectiveness of this method.
As well as the hair being wet, something should be used to lubricate the hair, such as a hair conditioner.
Comb the entire head from the scalp to the end of the hair.The process should be repeated every 3 to 4 days for at least 2 weeks after no more lice are found
Essential oils
Some natural plant oils may have a toxic effect on lice and eggs. These products include:
tea tree oil
eucalyptus oil
lavender oil
Coconut oil
One benefit of coconut oil is that the effects are physical rather than neurological, so the lice are highly unlikely to develop a resistance. The treatment dries out the waxy outer shell of the lice, causing fatal dehydration.
And also they hate the smell of coconut oil
So they tend to run from it.
Should my child stay off school?
Depending on the school policies,but i will advise a Child with lice to stay off school because lice is very contagious and that's the mistake many nigerian parents do.
Always examine your children from time to time and when you find something different you keep them away from school for a while
What about my child’s clothes?
Hats, bedding,and so on do not need to be thrown away if there is an infestation of head lice. Washing items that were used within the 2 days before the infestation was found should be enough. Use hot water and dry with the sunlight.
Treatment
Several products are available over the counter (OTC) for treating head lice.
OTC medications containing 1 percent permethrin or pyrethrins can be effective, although in some areas, the lice have developed a resistance to these products.
Here is a list of medicines for head lice that are approved
permethrin cream (1%)
pyrethrin-based product
malathion lotion (0.5%)
benzyl alcohol lotion (5%)
spinosad topical suspension (0.9%)
ivermectin lotion (0.5%)
ulesfia
natroba
sklice
Permethrin cream (1 percent)
Permethrin cream (1 percent) is available without a prescription. It is applied to hair that has been shampooed and towel-dried, but not conditioned, then rinsed off after 10 minutes.
Permethrin will not kill all the eggs at this time, but it will leave a residue on the hair that is designed to kill nymphs emerging from the 20 to 30 percent of live eggs that remain.
The application should be repeated 7 to 10 days later, if live lice are seen. Conditioners and silicone-based additives present in most shampoos reduce the product’s residual effect.
Pyrethrin-based products (shampoo or hair mousse)
The most common way to treat lice is to use medicated creams, lotions, or shampoos that kill lice.
Pyrethrin-based shampoo or hair mousse is available without a prescription. It is applied to dry hair and rinsed off after 10 minutes.
Malathion lotion (0.5 percent)
Malathion lotion (0.5%) is available by prescription only. It should be applied to dry hair, left to dry, and rinsed off after 8 to 12 hours
Benzyl alcohol lotion (5 percent)
Benzyl alcohol lotion (5 percent) is a prescription-only drug that is applied topically and left on for 10 minutes. It does not kill eggs, so it must be repeated after 9 to 10 days. It is only suitable for infants and children over the age of 6 months and It can cause skin irritation.
Spinosad topical suspension (0.9 percent)
This is a prescription drug that is applied to dry hair and rinsed off after 10 minutes.
Spinosad is safe and effective for the treatment of head lice, and most people will have no lice after a single treatment. It is not necessary to use a nit comb.
Ivermectin lotion (0.5 percent)
Ivermectin lotion (0.5 percent) is a prescription-only lotion that is applied to dry hair and rinsed off after 10 minutes.
Topical ivermectin 0.5 percent lotion kills head lice by increasing chloride in muscle cells, leading to paralysis.
This is a one-time-use, topical treatment that is suitable for children aged 6 months and older.
Steps for safe use of head lice products
Benzyl alcohol lotion (5 percent) is a prescription-only drug that is applied topically and left on for 10 minutes. It does not kill eggs, so it must be repeated after 9 to 10 days. It is only suitable for infants and children over the age of 6 months and It can cause skin irritation.
Spinosad topical suspension (0.9 percent)
This is a prescription drug that is applied to dry hair and rinsed off after 10 minutes.
Spinosad is safe and effective for the treatment of head lice, and most people will have no lice after a single treatment. It is not necessary to use a nit comb.
Ivermectin lotion (0.5 percent)
Ivermectin lotion (0.5 percent) is a prescription-only lotion that is applied to dry hair and rinsed off after 10 minutes.
Topical ivermectin 0.5 percent lotion kills head lice by increasing chloride in muscle cells, leading to paralysis.
This is a one-time-use, topical treatment that is suitable for children aged 6 months and older.
Steps for safe use of head lice products
Here are some steps for using head-lice products safely.
After rinsing the product from the hair and scalp, use a fine-toothed comb or special “nit comb” to remove dead lice and nits. Different products need different lengths of time before rinsing.
Apply the product only to the scalp and the hair attached to the scalp, not to other body hair
Treatments for children must be directly supervised by an adult.
If head lice are found on one family member, all household members should be checked.
Procedure
Wet the hair, as it can make the lice easier to see and prevent them from scurrying away.
Sit the person under a bright light.
Separate the hair into sections. Beginning at the scalp, slowly comb outward through the hair section by section.
After each comb-through, wipe the comb on a wet towel. Examine the scalp, comb, and towel carefully.
Prevention
The following measures can help reduce the risk of finding head lice in the home:
Teaching children to avoid touching their head against those of other children during play
Advising children not to share clothes, such as hats and scarves, as well as items including towels, hairbrushes etc
Disinfecting any combs or brushes that have been used by a person who has had head lice
Thoroughly cleaning items that have had contact with the head of a person with a head lice infestation with hot water, such as bed linens and dry clothing lice,
checking each family member for head lice a week after treatment
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