Head Lice
Head Lice Related Encyclopedia • Acne • Alagille Syndrome • Angina Pectoris • Angiogram More… Related Animations • Dental Cavities More… Related Healthscout Videos The Cure Within The Future Human: Linking Man with Machine Easier Breastfeeding for Moms DVT: What You Need to Know More… Related Drug Information • Adderal XR • Concerta • Strattera More… Related News Articles • Health Tip: Why People Get Ear Infections • Health Tip: When Kids Have Separation Anxiety • Health Tip: Buy a Bike That Suits Your Child • Health Tip: When You Shop With Children More…
- Definition of Head Lice
- Description of Head Lice
- Treatment of Head Lice
- Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Head Lice
Definition of Head Lice Head lice are parasites (about the size of a small ant) that often develop in the hair of children and sometimes adults.
Description of Head Lice The head louse, Pediculus capitis humanus, is by no means a new nuisance. The insect has been an unwelcome companion to humans, probably from the beginning, as with its close relatives, the body louse and the pubic (or crab) louse. Head lice infestations seem to be on the rise in recent years – as almost any parent of an elementry-age child can tell you. A parent’s first reaction to head lice is often revulsion, sometimes accompanied by a sense of shame, due to the misperception that head lice only live on “dirty” people. In truth, the only thing that the presence of head lice tells about children is that they’ve been around other kids with head lice.
Head lice get their nourishment by sucking small amounts of blood from humans. Their favorite feeding area is the scalp, behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck. Their feeding and sucking activity is responsible for the itching that is so frequently the first hint of infestation. If left untreated, a rash and infection can occur. In severe cases, the lymph glands in the neck may swell. Although usually confined to the head, head lice can sometimes set up shop in beards, eyebrows and rarely, eyelashes.
Though they don’t fly, lice are quite adept at getting from head to head, especially when those heads are close together. Good hygiene is always an admirable goal, but a clean head of hair is no guarantee that they won’t invade. Because children play so closely together and are often in large groups, lice have an easy time traveling from child to child. Cases of lice seem to increase in the winter, possibly because kids are inside and close together – sharing hats, combs, and consequently, “cooties,” as kids sometimes call them.
Head lice can live up to two to three days apart from the body, and in closets where clothes hang close together, may hop from hat to scarf. They also may be lurking on the headrest of a school bus seat, just waiting to get aboard an attractive head. (The stitching of those upholstered headrests can hide the tiny gray-white lice eggs called nits.)
It is easier to spot the nits than the lice themselves, and because nits are dandruff-like in appearance, they are easier to see on brunettes than blondes. To distinguish them from dandruff or hair spray, pick up a strand of hair close to the scalp and pull your fingernail across the area where the whitish substance appears. Dandruff or hair spray will come off easily, but nits will stay firmly attached to the hair. If you look very closely, you may be able to see the bugs themselves on the back of the head and around the ears.
Once you have discovered head lice on one family member, all members of the family, as well as close friends, should be checked. Also, look for lice and nits in the fabric of stuffed toys, upholstered furniture and bedding.
Treatment of Head Lice For all types of pediculosis, lindane lotion (Kwell or Scabene) is used extensively. A thin layer is applied to the infested and adjacent hairy areas and then removed after two hours by thorough washing. Remaining nits may be removed with a fine-toothed comb or forceps.
Permethrin 1% cream rinse (Nix), is a topical pediculocide and ovicide for the treatment of head lice and eggs. It is applied to the scalp and hair and left on for 10 minutes before it is rinsed off with water. Synergized pyrethrins (A-200 Pyrinate, Pyrinyl and Rid) are over-the-counter products that are applied undiluted until the infested areas are entirely wet. After 10 minutes, the areas are washed thoroughly with warm water and soap, and then dried.
Nits may be treated as indicated above. For involvement of eyelashes, petrolatum is applied thickly, twice daily for eight days and the remaining nits are then plucked off. There is a controversy about whether or not lice and the acarus of scabies can develop resistance to lindane.
Malathion lotion 0.5% (Prioderm) compared with A-200 Pyrinate shampoo, R&C shampoo, Rid, Kwell shampoo (lindane) and A-200 Pyrinate liquid, is the only product for pediculosis capitis that shows excellent ovicidal (egg-killing) activity. Hatching of eggs following treatment with the other agents leads to recurrence of the infestation.
Nit-picking
While parents hate to be “nit-pickers,” nit-picking is usually the worst problem associated with head lice. To get rid of all the nits after a de-lousing shampoo, a special fine-toothed metal nit comb is used to dislodge the eggs, or they are picked off with fingernails or tweezers – a tedious procedure.
Nit combs (fine-toothed metal combs, sometimes with tiny blades at the base) can cut the hairs to which a louse egg is attached and it can take hours per head, depending on the length of hair and the number of nits. Although effective for thick hair, nit combs are useless for the very fine hair of a young child. Each egg-bearing hair can be cut out with scissors. Fingernails can also be used for nit removal.
Some experts recommend soaking the hair in warm, diluted vinegar to make nit-picking easier, a strategy of unproven usefulness. A haircut may make nit removal less time-consuming, but it can stigmatize children.
Preventing Re-infestation
To prevent reinfestation, the following may be helpful:
- Make sure all family members and friends of the infested person have been closely scrutinized for signs of lice. If any of them appear to have lice, make sure they are treated.
- Wash all clothing and bed linens used by the infested members of your family in hot water and place in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes. If this cannot be done, place the linens and clothing into an airtight bag for two weeks. Dry cleaning also kills lice and nits.
- Vacuum backs of chairs, pillows in living and bedroom areas, mattresses, car seats, headrests and rugs that might be in contact with infested hair. Empty and discard the vacuum bag. There are some OTC sprays for disinfecting furniture and bedding which contain insecticides that are not suitable for humans or animals, so be very careful not to confuse them with the products for human use.
- Disinfect combs, brushes, sports helmets and other objects that come in contact with the head by soaking in medicated shampoo or very hot soapy water.
- Recheck all family members and friends seven to 14 days and 21 to 28 days after initial treatment to be sure lice have not reappeared. (Eggs that remain after treatment will hatch in seven to 14 days.)
Though discovering that your child has head lice is no picnic, neither is it a cause for panic or shame. The problem is shared by a good portion of the American school population and can be controlled through vigilance and appropriate treatment.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Head Lice If head lice are suspected, is there any over-the-counter lotion more effective than another?
Will you be prescribing a medication?
Are there any side effects to any of the lotions?
Should I treat all family members, even if there are no visible lice?
Should school or the workplace be notified of the condition?
Incoming search terms for the article:
Similar articles
- How To Get Rid of Louse
How to Get Rid of Louse Problems Through Prevention It is not easy to know how to get rid of louse infestations permanently. Lice are such great survivors and are so stubborn that there may be no absolute answer to how to get rid of louse problems. It is a fact though that ... - Head Lice & How to Get Rid of Them
MAIN Kids Health Head Lice Whether you’re rich or poor, come from a family that practices good personal hygiene, or one that doesn’t so much – head lice are a concern of parents of school age children everywhere. Fact is, nobody is to blame for head lice ... - Rid Your House of Head Lice to Prevent Reoccurring Infestation
Naturally when you discover that someone in your home has headlice, the first thing you want to do is begin treatment, but it is also important to pay attention to your house as well. When someone in the household becomes infested with headlice, it is not uncommon for the rest of the family to catch ... - Cheap Head Lice Treatment
Preventing Head Lice Infestations The cliché prevention is worth an ounce of cure is best applicable to head lice infestation problems. Why wait until your child’s head is infested with lice and nits when you can prevent head lice in the first place? The problem is that this is easier said ... - Head Lice
It’s nit-picking time again in schools and child care facilities everywhere. And while the nuisances may not be able to be eliminated, educators and care providers are again on high alert to at least control the pesty creatures. School and child care settings make an easy mark for transferring head lice (“pediculosis”) from ...