Head lice are small insects that live only in the human head. They feed on blood, they get several times a day snacking. The bite is painless but the patient develops an allergy to the saliva of the parasite and this causes intense itching very variable. Not transmit disease (yes body lice). The only possible complication is infection of the skin by scratching. They are spread by direct contact (hair dryer). It is unlikely the spread by objects such as combs or clothing, as a lice die if they do not sting, newborns within hours and adults in little more than 1 day.

The female reaches adulthood in about 2 weeks to live another 3 or 4, during which they can lay several eggs a day (nits). The oval-shaped nits, is white and is strongly attached to the hair near the skin, because you need heat to incubate. The louse was born as a mean of 9 days. Considering the growth of hair, nits located more than 1 cm. of the skin are often empty shells of lice and babies.

Do head lice cause Illness or disease?

- The head louse does not transmit any disease. Scratching a lot can cause sores on the scalp, however it is rare for this to happen. Parents should give the cases of head lice in their children a proper measure. A mother or parent can have to face health situations much more serious than lice.
- Adults more than children, are extremely upset by the presence of such parasites. Such discomfort is usually exaggerated and exceeds the importance that the louse has public health problem.
- Of lice can damage the most likely cause is from a poor treatment with chemicals. The repeated use of certain products on the scalp can cause severe reactions in some people's heads.

How is it treated?

Children under 2 years: You can cut the hair (the shorter the better) and remove lice and nits by hand (it requires patience, good lighting and good eyesight or magnifying glass). If you do not want to cut your hair, buy a smoothing cream (it either, but there are also specific lice) and a nit: apply the cream and go methodically fine-tooth comb, looking for lice removed. Repeat every 3 days until 3 successive hairstyles not recover any lice. Between hair and hair hand remove all nits.

Over 2 years: You can follow the previous advice, or use an insecticide or both treatments simultaneously. Among the best studied insecticide is permethrin. Various preparations with permethrin at concentrations near 1%, which are used against lice. Apply as advised by the manufacturer (10 minutes) before rinsing and get a good nit comb. If effective, the lice are still recovered; the itching will cease soon and will not reappear in the next few days. Years ago permethrin was so effective that one application was enough.

When can I return to school, how to avoid infection?

Remember who get "hair with hair." Young children are most prone to this contact. It is not necessary to exclude from school a child who is following a treatment by having only one nit. The risk of infection is minimized if her hair long (pigtails, bows), or plugging (scarves), both the infected child and the peer. Short hair is not only prevents the infection, but greatly facilitates any treatment. Do not share brushes or combs, hats or headbands, at least if there is any child in the class or your family with head lice.

You may be interested in reading Lice Infestation and Home Remedies for Head Lice. If you want read more Home Remedies for Lice

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