What are head lice in humans? They breed on the hair of the head. Adults subsist on the host's blood. The skin on the head is thin, they pierce it with their proboscis and feed in this way. When pierced, they release a little special substance that prevents blood from clotting. A person feels severe irritation in the bite area, itching, as a result of which scratching appears on the skin. Where else do lice live? They can be observed in other areas of the hairline, for example, in intimate areas. There is a species called body lice that live in the folds of clothing but also feed on human blood.
Lice are pretty small insects. Adults from 0.4 to 6 millimeters. The shape is flattened. The belly is much larger than the head. The mouthparts are designed as cutting-sucking, which helps to parasitize. Lice live for approximately 40 days. They can exist for 10 days without any food. However, it should not be cooler than +10°C. At + 44 ° C, insects die. Atlice have wings, but they are reduced in volume. This circumstance is determined by their transition to a parasitic form of existence. How can you get lice? From another person, at the hairdresser, through hygiene products - there are many ways.
Causes and routes of infection
The most important source of lice infection is a person who has lice. You can catch these parasitic insects like this:
- By contact, parasites pass from one person to another. This happens at the moment of close contact, when people touch hair.
- Can you get lice through a pillow? It is possible if there are lice on it that got there from the head of a person suffering from pediculosis. Infection can also occur through care items: combs, hairpins, towels, as well as through hats. Unfortunately, these parasites persist for some time on objects that have been used by a person infected with head lice. Therefore, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to get lice in a hairdresser is positive. Where hygiene rules are not observed, tools are not washed after customers, it is quite possible to catch lice.
- You can get pubic lice during intercourse.
- Is it possible to get lice at sea? You can also get infected through water. If they are in the water, they are ready to save their vital activity for two days. That is why there is a high risk of getting lice in the pond.
Most often children suffer from pediculosis. This is due to the fact that they are in daily close contact withother children. They often pass their personal hygiene items to each other, they can change hats.
How else can you get lice? Consider the most common myths.
There is a myth that says that you can get lice from animals. Yes, of course, animals have such parasites, but they belong to a different species. Pubic lice are found only on the human body.
There is also a legend that lice are able to jump from one person to another. This opinion is erroneous, because due to the anatomical structure, these parasites can only move slowly. Their speed is 23 cm per minute. That is why lice only pass from one person to another through direct contact.
Do not think that you can get rid of parasites with the help of mechanical removal. Yes, combing nits and lice with a comb brings results, but it is not possible to completely get rid of parasites in this way.
To do this, you need to use medical means, and after using the drug, comb out dead parasites and remaining nits.
As you can see, there are many places where you can get lice. These are preschool institutions, schools, pioneer camps, hairdressers, beauty salons, baths and swimming pools (lice there can get over to a person’s things in the locker rooms). How do they manifest themselves? Read on.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of head lice are shown below:
- First of all, itching appears, which occurs inas a result of the fact that the parasite irritates the skin with its claws on the legs. This factor affects the nervous system - a signal is sent to the brain that there is an irritant on the surface of the head.
- Rash on the scalp during head lice in the place where the insect bites.
- Pigment spots form. They appear in places where there was an insect bite.
- Insect eggs can be seen on the hair. At a certain point in the life cycle, nits can fall out of the hair and can be seen on clothing.
- Identification of the parasites themselves. Lice are considered the causative agent of pediculosis. They can be seen when examining the hairline.
- There is a violation of the psychological state. The itching that has appeared prevents a person from calmly performing everyday activities, sleep disappears, fatigue and irritability increase.
At the first signs of head lice, it is necessary to conduct an examination and begin treatment.
How to treat pediculosis in children and adults
Events to combat pediculosis with pediculosis include several techniques:
- Drug treatment.
- Processing things, household items, bedding and the entire room.
- Personal hygiene.
- Periodic prevention of relapse.
For children, the following remedies are considered the best:
- "Nittifor" (can be used from 5 years). Not absorbed into the blood, does not irritate the scalp. This is a very effective remedy for lice and nits, which is not usedonly for children, but also for adults.
- Foxylon lotion. Works well on adult lice, but does not work on nits.
- Shampoo "Pedilin". It acts very gently on the skin of the child, but does not kill nits. Therefore, several treatments are required. Can be used for children aged 2+.
Processing
Sanitation of things is also widely used. This is especially true for body lice. This procedure is best carried out in specialized institutions where the epidemiological sanitary service is controlled. But you can successfully get rid of lice at home. It is important to understand that the use of old folk remedies (vinegar, vodka) brings an effect, but requires re-treatment, as it kills mostly adult insects, but no nits. In addition, such funds can lead to complications, harm the skin. Dryness, burns, allergies appear. Also, alternative methods can lead to poisoning, which can provoke broncho-obstructive syndrome.
Drug treatment is very specific, selected individually. If a person has an allergy, it is dangerous to use medications in the fight against parasites. Basically, there are three insecticidal agents in lice control products: permitrin, sumitrin and malathion. Consider which drugs contain them.
Permethrin
This group includes Nittifor, Medifox, Nix, Permethrin. Data releasedpreparations in the form of cream-shampoos, lotions and conventional creams. The mechanism of action of these drugs is quite predictable, the drug acts on the nervous system of parasites, paralyzing them. The method of using such products is quite simple - with the help of a cotton swab, the drug is carefully applied to the hair roots and to the entire length. It is carefully rubbed and covered with a scarf for 40 minutes. After that, the hair is well washed out with shampoo.
Malathion
Pedilin belongs to this group of drugs. The tool has a combined effect: it affects the nervous system of parasites, and also penetrates through chitin and is stored in the body of the insect. The method of application is quite simple, since the drug is available in the form of an emulsion or shampoo. It is applied to wet hair, rubbed well into the scalp and left for 5 minutes. After that, you need to thoroughly wash your hair with shampoo. To fix the effect, it is necessary to repeat the procedure in a week.
Sumitrin
This group includes drugs "Anti bit", "Sumitrin". These funds affect not only the parasites themselves, but also their nits. The product must be applied twice on the head and left for three minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
This procedure is repeated after 2 days.
Boric ointment
This is also an effective remedy for lice and nits. It is necessary to apply ointment to the hair and head and leave for 20 minutes, then wash your hair with shampoo.
Doctors and researchers are constantly makingnew discoveries, develops new methods of treatment of pediculosis. Every year, whole complexes of synthetic materials and oils are created in order to prevent the spread of this trouble. Mineral oils are created that are designed to act on nits and lice, disrupting their metabolism. But while this technique is at the stage of research.
Without fail, after medical therapy in the fight against pediculosis, it is necessary to comb out nits and dead parasites with a special comb with small teeth. The head must be conditionally divided into four sectors and carefully comb each strand. It is best to carry out this procedure over a white cloth in order to see those lice that could survive and destroy them with mechanical action.
If pediculosis has affected the pubic area, then the best way to combat this is complete hair removal.
Hellenic water
According to the instructions for the use of hellebore water from lice, this is an alcohol tincture of hellebore diluted with water. It is available in bottles of 50 and 100 ml.
Reviews about this tool are different. For some it helped the first time, others had to repeat the procedure. The instructions for use of hellebore water from lice clearly state how to use this remedy. It must be applied to the scalp and hair, tie a scarf and wait 20-30 minutes. Then comb out the dead lice with a comb, and wash the hair thoroughly. This product is toxictherefore, it should not be used by pregnant, lactating women and people under the age of 18. In no case should the product be allowed to get on the wounds (if any), in the eyes, in the mouth. In the latter case, hellebore water can cause poisoning. This tool does not work on nits, so after the first treatment, a second is required. The break between them should be 7 days.
Alcohol or vodka
This method of dealing with head lice is the most common. For a compress It is necessary to take 96% alcohol and apply to the skin between partings along the entire length of the hair. This technique is not sparing, since a burning sensation appears almost immediately. This product dries out the skin a lot. It is absolutely unacceptable for children, pregnant and lactating women. Vodka, the strength of which is two times lower than alcohol, is a more gentle method, but the product does not kill all lice, but does not work on nits at all.
Table vinegar
Vinegar solution is considered even less dangerous in the fight against parasites. It is prepared quite simply: you need to dissolve 2 tablespoons of 9% vinegar in a cup of water. The liquid is applied around the entire perimeter of the head and along the entire length of the hair. Next, you need to tie a scarf and wait 30 minutes. After this time, comb out the lice and wash your head. It should be noted that even diluted vinegar can adversely affect the scalp and hair follicles. Therefore, it is much better to use pharmacy remedies for pediculosis.
Processing with kerosene
Formerly this meanswas a true salvation from lice. So far, many have successfully used it. Kerosene is able to kill both sexually mature insects and nits. As a rule, a single treatment is sufficient. The disadvantages of the product are the same as for all chemical liquids intended for technical purposes: it causes skin allergies, dries out the hair. After using kerosene, they become brittle, severely split. Product should not be used on children.
To reduce the negative effect of kerosene on the hair and scalp, it can be diluted with vegetable oil and shampoo (1:1:1), but in this case, the product will not work on nits.
Dichlorvos treatment
This method is considered one of the most radical, since the poison contained in dichlorvos is capable of killing any insects: flies, bedbugs, cockroaches, of course, and lice. However, it does not act on nits, which must be taken into account by those who are going to treat their own or someone else's head with dichlorvos. A big drawback of the product is also that it needs to be sprayed on the hair, since dichlorvos is produced exclusively in aerosol cans. With this method of use, there is no guarantee that some part of the product will not enter the lungs of a person.
Folk methods of struggle without chemistry
The most harmless folk remedies for lice on the head are:
- Cranberry juice rubbed into the scalp for 7 days.
- You can wash your hair for 10 days with a decoction of mint.
- A mixture of onion and garlic is a great way to fight head lice, but it isleaves burns on the skin.
- Dust soap. This method has been used for as long as kerosene. Dust soap is useful for prevention to wash things (hats, clothes, underwear). It helps to get rid of all types of lice. It is worth considering the fact that this remedy is too toxic for the human body.
If you are not a supporter of various chemistry and medicines, then the best way to deal with head lice can be a special comb "Anti". It is designed so that its teeth remove nits from the hair and remove adult insects. It is useful to use this comb for the prevention of pediculosis by combing your head once a week. It is quite expensive - from 1400 rubles, but according to the reviews of consumers and parents who used it to remove lice from their children, this is almost an ideal remedy.
Prevention of head lice
An important role in the prevention of pediculosis is played by the identification of persons with pediculosis (the homeless, the poor, families where alcoholism and unsanitary conditions flourish). We will give some tips on how not to get lice from a child and an adult.
In polyclinics, it is mandatory to examine persons sent for inpatient treatment to organized children's groups. You also need to examine children from dysfunctional and large families in which there are no normal living conditions.
Everyone should follow the rules of personal hygiene, including taking a shower or bath, washing things and bed linen. Aftervisiting public places where you can pick up lice (hairdresser, swimming pool, and so on), it is advisable to comb out with a thick comb. Also, parents should examine their children who have returned from pioneer camps, sanatoriums and similar places of rest.
When lice are detected at any period of formation, pest control events are performed simultaneously, exterminating lice directly on the body, as well as underwear, clothing and other items. How to treat pediculosis in children, when, unfortunately, it appeared, we indicated above.
When pediculosis is detected in people living in comfortable apartments, treatment is carried out by residents. A he alth worker gives advice on peer review of family members and the use of anti-pediculosis substances.
