Head lice square measure little insects that survive the scalp, wherever they lay their eggs. Head lice don't unfold illness. Having head lice doesn't mean you're not clean.
What do head lice look like?
Lice have three stages – the egg (nit), the nymph and also the adult.
Nits square measure whitish-grey, tan or yellow ovals, more or less the scale of a grain of sand. They follow the hair near the scalp and might appear as if dandruff. Nits hatch in nine to ten days.
Nymphs square measure baby lice. they appear like adult lice however square measure smaller.
Adult lice square measure more or less the scale of a flavourer and square measure exhausting to check. Adult lice will live for up to thirty days on a person’s head, however they die among three days aloof from the scalp.
How do they spread?
Head lice unfold simply, particularly wherever individuals square measure in shut contact. they're quite common among school-aged youngsters or youngsters attending kid care.
Head lice unfold through direct hair-to-hair contact or indirectly by sharing things like hats, combs, hairbrushes and headphones.
Head lice don’t fly or hop, however do crawl terribly quickly.
Head lice that survive individuals can’t survive pets, like cats or dogs.
How does one understand you've got head lice?
One of the primary signs of head lice is associate restless scalp. however it's doable to own head lice with none symptoms.
If you're thinking that your kid has head lice, check his hair for nits promptly, save for once one week and once two weeks.
How do I check for head lice?
To confirm a case of head lice, you wish to search out live lice. youngsters will have some nits while not truly having a case of head lice. sometimes youngsters haven't any over ten to twenty live lice.
Good lighting is vital once you square measure checking.
Head lice move quick and square measure exhausting to check. they're sometimes found terribly near the scalp, at very cheap of the neck and behind the ears.
To look for nits, half hair in little sections, moving from one facet of the top to the opposite. Check rigorously, wanting near the scalp.
How will head lice be treated?
Insecticides square measure chemicals that kill insects (bugs). In Canada, three pesticides square measure approved to treat head lice:
pyrethrin (found in R&C Shampoo + Conditioner)
permethrin (Nix Creme Rinse or Kwellada-P Creme Rinse)
lindane (Hexit Shampoo or PMS-Lindane Shampoo).
Pyrethrin and permethrin square measure safe once used on humans. However, insecticide is harmful (poisonous). merchandise with insecticide mustn't be used on infants or young youngsters younger than two years old-time. You don’t would like a prescription for these merchandise.
Follow package directions rigorously.
Don’t leave the shampoo or rinse within the hair longer than directed.
Rinse hair well with cool water once the treatment. It’s best to rinse over a sink, not within the bathtub or shower, in order that different components of the body don’t are available contact with the merchandise.
Repeat the treatment once seven to ten days.
Sometimes, these treatments will build the scalp restless or will leave a light burning feeling. If your kid is scratching once treatment, it doesn't essentially mean the lice square measure back.
A noninsecticidal product known as isopropyl myristate/cyclomethicone (Resultz) has additionally been approved to be used in North American nation, however it ought to solely be utilized in youngsters four years old-time and older:
It works by breaking down the waxy skeleton (‘skin’) of lice. The lice get dehydrated and die.
Apply to a dry scalp and rinse once ten min.
Repeat once one week.
Do not treat anyone with a head lice product unless you discover lice in their hair. Check all members of the family if somebody within the house has head lice.
What concerning different treatments?
Some individuals use home remedies like mayo, mixture, olive oil, vinegar or oleomargarine. though these merchandise could build it exhausting for lice to breathe, they in all probability won’t kill them.
There is little or no proof that wet comb works (removing lice by comb wet hair with a toothed comb).
There is no proof that merchandise like tea tree oil or aromatherapy work to treat head lice.
Never use hydrocarbon or coal oil. These merchandise is very dangerous.
Should the house be disinfected if somebody has head lice?
Because head lice don’t live long off the scalp, there's no would like for further improvement.
To get obviate lice or nits from things like hats or pillowcases:
Wash the things in plight and dry during a hot drier for fifteen min; or
Store the things in associate airtight bag for two weeks.
Should youngsters with head lice keep home from school?
Children with head lice ought to be treated and might attend college or kid care as was common.
‘No-nit’ policies that keep youngsters with head lice aloof from college aren't necessary because:
Head lice square measure common among young youngsters.
Head lice don’t unfold illness.
Cases of head lice square measure typically misdiagnosed.
Children will have head lice for many weeks with no symptoms.
If your kid has head lice, treat it. Teach your kid to avoid head-to-head contact with different youngsters till the lice square measure gone. youngsters mustn't share combs, hairbrushes, caps, hats or hair ornaments.