How does infection occur?
The head louse lives only on humans and dies outside the host within one to two days. Transmission occurs through direct contact of hair: during games, selfies, sleeping in the same bed. Much less often, lice get onto a new owner through combs, elastic bands, hats, headphones, and headrests. The female attaches nit eggs to the hair close to the skin with a special adhesive substance, so they cannot simply be shaken off. After 7–10 days, larvae emerge from the nits, and if re-treatment is not carried out, the cycle repeats. Pets do not get sick with human lice and do not tolerate them.
- Direct head-to-head contact is the main route
- General combs, elastic bands, hats, headphones
- Nits are glued to the hair at the root
- Development cycle - about 7-10 days
- Animals are not involved in the transfer
- Clean hair does not protect against infection
Symptoms and how to distinguish nits from dandruff
The main symptom is itching, which does not appear immediately, but several weeks after infection, when sensitivity to insect saliva develops. Scratching is most often visible behind the ears, on the back of the head and temples, and nits are also found there. Live nits look like grayish-white oval grains, tightly glued to the hair about a centimeter from the skin. The main difference from dandruff: dandruff is easily shaken off and glides over the hair, and nits can only be removed with a fingernail. Sometimes small red bite marks and hardened lymph nodes on the neck are observed.
- Itching behind the ears and on the back of the head
- Scratching and scabs on the scalp
- Nits glued to the hair at the root
- Live insects when inspecting wet hair with a comb
- Dandruff is easily shaken off, nits are not
- Enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes over a long period of time
How to treat correctly
Only those who actually have lice or nits are treated: preventive treatment of all family members is not recommended. Use pharmaceutical pediculicides, strictly following the instructions for exposure time and quantity. Dimethicone-based products act mechanically, enveloping insects, and resistance to them does not develop. After treatment, the hair is combed out with a fine comb, strand by strand, on damp hair with balm. Repeated treatment is required after 7–10 days to destroy the hatched larvae. Kerosene, vinegar, dichlorvos and hair dye should not be used.
- Treat only infected family members
- Follow the product instructions exactly
- Dimethicone products as first choice
- Thorough combing with a fine comb
- Repeated treatment after 7–10 days
- Do not use kerosene, vinegar, gasoline, dichlorvos
- See everyone who lives together
What to do with things and the team
There is no need to treat the entire apartment and throw away things: a louse does not live long outside a person. It is enough to wash bed linen, towels, hats and clothes that have been used in the last two days at a high temperature and iron them. Combs and hairpins are soaked in hot water. Items that cannot be washed are placed in a tight bag for two weeks. The child can return to school or kindergarten after the first treatment. It is important to warn about the case in the group so that other parents examine the children and prevent re-infection.
- Wash at high temperature and iron
- Soaking combs in hot water
- Insulate non-washable items in a bag for two weeks
- Total disinfection of the apartment is not necessary
- Return to the team after the first treatment
- Report the incident to school or kindergarten
- Examination of all family members
Prevention and special situations
It is impossible to protect yourself completely, but the risk is reduced if the child has long hair in a braid or bun, if he does not use other people’s combs, elastic bands and hats, and if he does not put his hat in a common pile. During the outbreak season, it is useful to examine the child's head once a week with a comb on damp hair - this way the infection is detected early. Separately, there are body lice, which live in the folds of clothing under poor living conditions, and pubic lice, which are sexually transmitted: if they are detected, you need to be examined by a doctor.
- Collected hair in children
- Your own combs, elastic bands and hats
- Weekly comb inspection during outbreaks
- Timely treatment of identified cases
- Body lice - in unfavorable living conditions
- Pubic lice are a reason to be examined for sexually transmitted infections