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Every parent of school-going children dreads the inevitable head lice infestation. Every year in America, around six to twelve million cases of head lice infestation occur in children between the ages of 3–11.
Head lice infestations are also more common in girls. This might be due to the length of their hair or the frequent head-to-head contact girls are more likely to maintain.
While head lice have not been known to transmit any diseases, they can lead to secondary bacterial infections due to excessive scratching. They can also cause high levels of anxiety and psychological frustrations among parents and children. They are also a leading cause of a substantial number of missed school days.
Causes of a Head Lice Infestation Occur
Contrary to popular belief, head lice infestations aren’t related to how clean or dirty a person is. The most common cause of a head lice infestation is by direct contact with a person who already has an infestation. Transmission of lice is common in places such as:
- Home — through relatives, by going to a friend’s house or having a friend over.
- School — working in close contact with a student who has head lice
- Other places such as camp, playground, slumber parties, or sports activities
Although not common, transmission can occur by:
- Using brushes, towels, or combs that are infested
- Sharing clothes such as scarves, hats, coats, or hair accessories with a person who has an infestation
- Lying on a couch, pillow, bed, or cuddling with a stuffed animal that recently came into contact with a person who has head lice
Head Lice Biology
Lice are parasitic insects that need a host for nourishment and survival. According to various studies on head lice, it takes seven to ten days for a nit (egg) to hatch. The warmth of the human skin on the scalp acts as an incubator which warms the eggs allowing them to hatch.
A young louse, also known as a nymph takes around nine to twelve days to mature into an adult louse. They can grow up to 2 millimeters in length and live for about three to four weeks. They can also live off the human body for almost 24 hours on surfaces like clothing, furniture, carpets, headphones, and hair accessories.
Symptoms of Head Lice
Head lice can be difficult to spot with the naked eye as they appear to be the same color as the hair. They like to infest the hairline at the back of the neck or behind the ears where they can be spotted relatively easily.
However, some obvious signs make it easy for parents to find out whether their kids have head lice.
- Itchiness —this is the most common symptom of a head lice infestation. Severe to moderate itchiness is caused by an allergic reaction which occurs when a louse bites the scalp to suck the blood.
- Sores —Sores on the scalp can develop from intense scratching to get rid of the itchiness
- Irritability —As the lice move around on the head they create a tickling sensation which can cause irritability and frustration
- The appearance of nits —this is one of the most obvious signs of head lice infestation. Usually, nits are located close to the scalp but in severe infestations, they can be visible along the strands of hair.
Head Lice Removal Tips for Parents
Many over-the-counter medication and shampoos claim they can remove all lice and nits from the hair. They contain plant-derived insecticides such as pyrethrins or pyrethroids which have been known to help in getting rid of head lice.
However, recent studies conducted by pesticide toxicologists by the University of Massachusetts was revealed that lice have evolved with the sustained use of the same few chemicals in most OTC medications and products.
The studies concluded that almost three-quarters of the lice are now immune to the effects of the commonly used insecticides. What we have now are super lice which need better methods for removal and eradication.
Here are some methods of head lice removal that still work:
Wet Combing:
This is one of the simplest methods of head lice removal. Apply some conditioner to still-wet hair of your child and use a fine-toothed comb to remove the lice and nits.
Nit combs are readily available at most drugstores and work quite well in removing head lice from every part of the scalp.
Smothering:
Another approach to removing head lice is by smothering them in various compounds. Some products such as mayonnaise, butter, olive oil, and petroleum jelly, are quite effective in smothering the lice which makes them easier to remove.
Essential Oils:
While they haven’t been officially proven as effective methods of removing head lice, many people use essential oils to treat head lice infestations. Plant oils such as anise, tea tree, and ylang-ylang are commonly used to remove head lice.
Visit A Lice Treatment Center:
There are several lice treatment clinics all over the country that are experts at head lice removal. They use several tried and tested techniques to treat any kind of head lice infestation with guaranteed results. So, if you are squeamish about picking out those buggers yourself, you can take your child to professional head lice removal services.
Lice Prevention Tips:
As the saying goes, prevention is better than a cure. It’s important that the parents educate themselves and their children about the best ways of avoiding a spread of head lice. Here are some ways you can prevent head lice both at home and in school:
- Avoid head-to-head contact with others
- Avoid touching, playing with, or fixing other people’s hair
- Avoid sharing personal items such as hats, brushes, and hair accessories.
- Examine your child’s head every week for signs of an infestation
- Keep a lookout for any reported cases of head lice in the school
- Launder the beddings, clothes, and other personal items regularly to prevent head lice from spreading after an infestation
- Make sure the school or daycare they are attending has a strict head lice policy
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