subject: Head Lice Information – Monitoring and Avoiding Infection [print this page] Head Lice Information Monitoring and Avoiding Infection
THERE ARE CURRENTLY VALID METHODS FOR MONITORING AND AVOID POSSIBLE INFECTION
The occurrence of lice, or pediculosis capillary, a problem that primarily affects children under school age, being authentic usual epidemics originating school. Its presence, always annoying, also causes confusion and distress in both school and family environment.
The main symptom is intense itching, produced by the body's reaction to insect saliva inoculated into each bite. The itching is not always immediate but may take several days to appear, when the infestation is severe. On the other hand, neither the length of the hair or the socioeconomic, cultural, age or sex influence the occurrence of the infestation. It is estimated that between 5 and 15% of children of school age at some point become infested by lice.
The head louse lives for about a month. Females lay 4 to 8 eggs a day to an average of about 110, of which 60% will become adults. The eggs are laid 1 to 2 mm of the scalp and the female secretes a sticky substance to ensure adherence to the hair. This proximity ensures the temperature, so that when we find nits away from the scalp they will already be old and dead. These are visible to the naked eye (they are about 2-3 mm), but due to its high mobility it is sometimes difficult to locate. It is easier to find the nits or eggs, which are strongly attached to the base of the hairs, and are of a whitish color.
Transmission
Man is the only host for head lice, so the animals, whether domestic or not, can not transmit head lice. Head lice can only survive 24 hours outside the head. Usually found primarily in the area of the neck and behind the ears, where the temperature is constant and suffers less hair breakage. The basic form of contagion is head to head. Other transfer modes are objects such as combs, hats, etc., So it is important not to share this type of objects, to prevent infestations, especially in schools. To prevent infections it is recommended to wear their hair short or tied in school (better in two braids to leave the neck bare.) Lice can appear throughout the year, without predilection for any season, although outbreaks tend to be more common at the start of the school year.
HOW TO CHECK THE HEAD IN DEPTH?
* The first step is to find the complicity of the child, create the enabling environment and involve him as if it were a game.
* After washing the head with the usual shampoo, apply the balm on wet hair and leave on for a few minutes before rinsing.
* Comb his head with a nit comb, passing from root to tip
* Shake comb in the sink vigorously or over a white cellulose paper, to see if there are any lice or nits. Clean the nit comb in running tap water.
* Carry out this check up periodically.
Is it possible to avoid them? The answer is yes. Currently there are valid tools to monitor and prevent the possible spread of lice.
* Mechanical Prevention: simply by frequent combing your child's hair with a nit comb (narrow spikes), we can see whether or not lice exist, and it is necessary to deal with the problem quickly.
* Chemical Prevention: you can purchase at the pharmacies specific lice repellent that can prevent transmission in high-risk situations. For example, if your child comes home and says that lice have been detected in his/her classroom, it's time to apply repellent before going to school to avoid infestation. In addition, this repellent also protects against re-infestation. In this way children who have received treatment will not be infected and will be protected. Before applying the repellent, it is necessary to ensure that no hair lice have been detected. Apply on dry hair or unwashed head for maximum repellent effect. One application is sufficient for several days.
Related Topic: "Secrets in Head Lice Home Treatment that Works Everytime - Guaranteed!"
