Head lice are tiny, wingless insects, which live on the head and in the hair of people, while sucking and feeding on their blood. These are highly infectious and can spread through contact when people work with their heads close together. Pediculosis is another name given to the infestation of head lice.
Head lice are usually black or dark brown insects, which attach themselves to the base of human hair. Head lice lay a large number of eggs, white or brown in color, and can be seen stuck to the base of the hair. These can be acquired by direct contact or by sharing of comb, brushes or rubber bands and hats. It is estimated that in US alone, 6-12 million people are treated for head lice.
What Cause Head Lice
Almost all school children suffer from head lice at least once in their lifetime. Head lice can affect anyone with long or short hair or dirty and clean hair. The factors that are more likely to decide the manifestation of head lice are the number of children per family, the sharing of beds and closets, hair washing habits, local customs and social contacts, healthcare in a particular area (e.g. school) and socio economic status etc. It is seen that girls are at a higher risk of getting head lice than boys.
Symptoms of Head Lice
Manifestation of head lice does not often show any symptoms. At times though, one can see red spots or lice and nits stuck to the hair. The area behind the ears is amongst the favorite places for the lice to hide themselves.
One of the most prominent symptoms of head lice is itchiness, which takes 3 to 4 weeks before becoming noticeable. Fever and the swelling of the lymph nodes are very rare symptoms of head lice. Lice bites are difficult to notice, though amongst the individuals with long hair, the neck may bear signs of the bites.
Diagnosing Head Lice
The entire head should be combed with a lice comb and then the teeth of the comb examined for the presence of lice or the nits. This is the easiest and most effective way of detecting the presence of lice in the hair. Another method devised, which is a bit more difficult is, by parting the hair in every 2 cm interval and checking for a moving lice. This method is usually employed in case of frizzy or curly haired people, where combing from a lice comb might be a tough task.
How to Prevent the Head Lice
Finally, the most important thing to know is how to prevent lice. One should examine the scalp of the children especially, at regular intervals. This will help in diagnosing the presence in early stages and help control the situation before it gets worse. Keeping the scalp and hair tidy and clean will also help.
In order to prevent the formation of head lice, the scalp and hair could be treated to a few drops of rosemary oil every day. All the clothes, bedding and other objects which come in contact with the children should be kept disinfected by washing them in hot water or by leaving them outdoors for two to three days.
Head Lice Treatment
Wash the hair and search for the lice and nits using the lice comb. In case lice are detected, the complete family should be checked for it. Though there is no product which guarantees destruction of the egg, there are number of solutions and medicines that can help to some degree.
One can employ the use of chemical treatments, natural products, combs, shaving, hot air, and silicone-based lotions to treat the lice. You can also make use of an electrically charged comb, which is easily available at the chemists and which catches and kills the lice. These days pesticide shampoos are also available, though these might pose harmful side-effects. Recently, a new treatment called dimeticone is becoming available. This treatment physically helps in covering and smothering the lice.
