How Are Hair Lice Spread – How to Fight It

Hair lice is a common problem and synthetic method are available to combat it. Head lice are parasite insects that live among human hair. Lice are also known as Pediculosis. They feed on small amounts of blood which they suck from the scalp. Head lice appear in three forms in the hair. One is an adult, the nits and nymphs. An adult is called a louse and it is the size of a sesame seed. It has six legs, and it is tan or grayish white in colour. The eggs, which are commonly known as nits, are very small, they are almost like dandruff flakes. They are tightly attached to the hair shaft and take about one week to hatch. Nits hatch into nymphs and they are immature adult lice, they too feed on blood. Lice and nits are easily detected near the neck area and behind the ears. Lice are a common problem among children, from the age group of 3 to 12 years and the families too may get the same parasite in their hair. Anyone can get head lice, regardless of personal hygiene. Head lice are not dangerous but it is very contagious. Close contact or sharing articles like a hairbrush or cap can put that person at risk of getting lice in their hair. It itches the scalp and can be very annoying at times. Persistent scratching and itching of the scalp can cause irritation and burning. The area might also get inflamed and sores might form. Though lice are small, they can be seen through the naked eye.

How Are Hair Lice Spread:

• Through direct contact from person to person.
• Coming into contact with a person who already has lice, for instance, in children while they are playing or at school.
• Wearing clothes which are infested with lice like hats, clothes, scarves, hair ribbons, school uniform, etc.
• Using lice infested combs, brushes, or towels.
• Lying on a pillow, couch, carpet or stuff toy which is infected.

How To Combat Hair Lice:
There is no respite from the itchiness in the scalp when the lice start to bite. And these little creatures multiply very fast, spreading all over the scalp in a day or two. It is a parent’s duty to look into the child’s problem. Tackling the problem should be done soon so that they disappear from the scalp as soon as possible to give your child respite. In older days lice was treated with olive oil, mayonnaise and petroleum jelly. Products that have Pyrethrin and Permethrin are available in the market and stores and can be purchased easily. There are other herbal products available too. Basil leaves are supposed to be good to combat lice. Cetaphil lotion can be used by applying it to the scalp. it should be left for 8 hours and then shampoo the hair. Repeat it every three weeks. The hair should be combed with a fine tooth comb. Hair brushes and pillowcase covers should be washed with hot water and soap. Lice can be controlled by using the plant “Annona Squamosa” (sharifa). Paste of seed or leaf applied on hair for killing lice. Wash it down after an hour. Depending on the condition of the hair, you can combat head lice.

The Ills Of Chemical Lice Treatment:
Although there are many over-the-counter treatments like shampoos and lotions which claim to combat hair lice and do succeed in it, they contain toxic substances which has a negative effect on one’s reproductive system and lead to low sperm count, mental illness and cancer. These toxic substances are permethrin and lindane. Children exposed to permethrin had neurological problems.