Head Lice

Head lice are small parasitic insects that are exquisitely adapted to living essentially on the scalp and neck hairs of human hosts. They have six legs, which help them adhere to the hair shafts. Although head lice mostly infest children, head lice infestations are a common problem for both children and adults. They spread through direct head-to-head contact or by sharing infested items such as hairbrush and combs, towels and hats. Lice do not necessarily infest people with bad hygiene.

A head lice infestation is also known as Pediculosis capitis. Lice bite into the scalp and survive by feeding on human blood. Although head lice are not harmful, they can be a nuisance for your children. They can be a source of irritation for your children, thereby making them scratch their head incessantly. This can frustrate your child and may bring about negative behavioral changes such as that of annoyance, irritation and self-consciousness. Besides, watching your children scratch their heads vigorously in public places can be very embarrassing for you. Hence, you need to treat the problem of head lice at the earliest. For this, you need to be aware of the following important things:

Signs and symptoms of head lice:

The most common sign of head lice infestation is itching of the scalp. Your children may also have a ticklish feeling of something crawling on their heads. You may also notice nits stuck to your children’s hair, very close to the scalp. If the lice problem has aggravated, you will notice red bite marks, dark specks, swelling or sores (wounds) on your children’s scalp.

After ascertaining the head lice problem, it is advised that you consult a general physician at the earliest to prevent the infestation from worsening. However, if due to some reasons you are unable to contact a physician, you can try implementing the first-line of treatment.

First-line treatment:

Many head lice insecticides such as Permethrin and Pyrethrins Plus Piperonyl Butoxide, are available over the counter. These have been found to be very effective in treating the problem of head lice. You just need to apply it as per the instructions mentioned on the package and wash it after leaving it in for some time. For best results, you can repeat the treatment after 7-10 days.

You can also prepare a mixture of essential peppermint oil, essential eucalyptus oil, essential lavender oil and olive oil by mixing them in appropriate quantities. Another option is to smother your children’s hair with Vaseline or mayonnaise. You can use a metal comb with wide teeth to comb your children’s hair.

By dealing with the head lice problem patiently and diligently, you can surely get rid of it.