Pediculosis SOS, how to recognize and treat lice 2017/05/18

Today we talk about pediculosis, a generalized problem in schools.

Lice are small insects that belong to the order of the Anoplura and they affect humans through 3 subspecies:

Pediculus Humanus Capitis that affect the scalp which we will be addressing in this post, Pediculus Humanus corporis lice of the body and crabs Pthirus Pubis, meaning, lice of the pubis or pubic lice.

Lice are parasites that nurture themselves on human blood through the skin, attaching with their teeth, hooking on with their claw shaped legs and with the mouth punch they penetrate to suck the blood, they have a 30 day life period. The lice’s saliva is the one that triggers the reaction of itchiness.

These are the peculiarities of Pediculus Humanus Capitis:

To see a lice on the naked eye is very easy: an adult lice has a dimension between 2 to 3 mm.

Eggs, also called nits, measure 1 mm and can be white-grey if they have hatched or darker if they are full. White lice can be confused with dandruff and can move even with breathing, while eggs don’t: generally they attach to the base of the hair, not the scalp, thanks to a substance the female lice secrete at the moment of deposition.

Nits generally are deposited on the temples, on the nape and behind the ears. On an infected head there can be a dozen lice but hundreds of eggs.

Lice can be ‘transmitted’ by direct contact (tilting the head, playing...) from one infected individual to another, because lice walk but don’t jump. Indirect contact occurs with shared use of combs or brushes.

To prevent an infestation, instead of making controls of the scalp, spray lotions exist with a repellent effect to spray on the head or massage.

When there is already an invasion of lice, treatments must be applied in shampoo form that kill and clean off the lice without consequences for humans. Hair must be washed according to the instructions and pass a comb with really thin teeth lock by lock. It’s preferable if during the first day of treatment the child stays home.

The whole family must be checked, as well as disinfecting all the brushes, combs, ties and hair accessories of the girls, wash the house’s tapestry, bed linens, scarves, hats, the couch, the child´s car seat, ergo, places where the head rests.

Let’s disregard the fact that lice prefer people who don’t take care of their personal hygiene. It’s not true that dirtiness attracts lice. Lice infect all types of hair. Apparently they are attracted by our sent, as happens with mosquitoes: there are people who are more attractive for this insects than others.

So, getting infected by lice shouldn’t be a motive of embarrassment or marginalization. This could happen to anyone.

Nevertheless, I’m sure no one wishes to be attractive in this way.