The head louse is a tiny, wingless parasitic insect that lives in human hairs and feeds on small quantities of blood drawn from the scalp. Lice (the plural of louse) are an extremely common problem, specifically for kids. They're infectious, irritating, and sometimes tough to eliminate.
While they're annoying to deal with, lice aren't harmful. They don't spread out illness, although their bites can make a child's scalp itchy and inflamed, and scratching can result in infection.
It's best to treat head lice rapidly as soon as they're found because they can spread out quickly from person to person.
Signs of Head Lice
They're really small, lice can be seen by the naked eye. Here are things to look for:
Lice eggs (called nits). Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm till they hatch.
Unless the invasion is heavy, it's more common to see nits in a child's hair than it is to see live lice crawling on the scalp. Lice eggs hatch within 1 to 2 weeks after they're laid. After hatching, the staying shell looks white or clear and remains firmly attached to the hair shaft. This is when it's most convenient to find them, as the hair is growing longer and the egg shell is moving away from the scalp.
Adult lice and nymphs (child lice). The adult louse is no larger than a sesame seed and is grayish-white or tan. Nymphs are smaller and end up being adult lice about 1 to 2 weeks after they hatch. If head lice is not dealt with, this process repeats itself about every 3 weeks. Most lice eat blood a number of times a day, and they can make it through as much as 2 days off the scalp.
With lice bites come itching and scratching. The itching might not constantly start right away-- that depends on how delicate a kid's skin is to the lice. It can sometimes take weeks for kids with lice to begin scratching.
Small red bumps or sores from scratching. For some kids, the irritation is moderate; for others, a more annoying rash may establish. Excessive scratching can cause a bacterial infection (this can trigger swollen lymph glands and red, tender skin that may have crusting and oozing). If your doctor believes this is the case, she or he may treat the infection with an oral antibiotic.
You may have the ability to see the lice or nits by parting your child's hair into small areas and checking for lice and nits with a fine-tooth comb on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the neck of the neck (it's unusual for them to be discovered on eyelashes or eyebrows).
A magnifying glass and brilliant light may assist. But it can be hard to discover a nymph or adult louse-- often, there aren't a number of them and they move fast.
See your doctor if your kid is constantly scratching his or her head or experiences an itchy scalp that will not go away. The medical professional must be able to inform you if your child is plagued with lice and needs to be dealt with. Not all kids have the traditional signs of head lice and some can be symptom-free.
Likewise be sure to talk to your kid's school nurse or childcare center director to see if other kids have actually just recently been treated for lice. If you discover that your kid does, certainly, have lice or nits, call the staff at the school and childcare center to let them understand. Find out what their return policy is. Many normally allow kids to return after one topical treatment has been finished.
Are Lice Contagious?
Lice are highly contagious and can spread out quickly from person to person, especially in group settings (like schools, child care centers, slumber parties, sports activities, and camps).
They can't fly or jump, these small parasites have specially adjusted claws that let them crawl and stick firmly to hair. They spread generally through head-to-head contact, however sharing clothing, bedding, combs, brushes, and hats likewise can pass them along. Kids are most vulnerable to catching lice due to the fact that they tend to have close physical contact with each other and share individual items.
And you may question if Fido or Fluffy might be catching the bugs and passing them on to your household. Rest ensured that pets can't capture head lice and pass them on to individuals or the other way around.
Treatment
Your medical professional can recommend a medicated hair shampoo, cream rinse, or lotion to kill the lice. Medicated lice treatments generally eliminate the lice, but it may take a few days for the itching to stop.
Make sure that the medicine is safe for your kid's age. While non-prescription hair shampoos are safe for kids as young as 2 months, other medications are only safe for kids 2 years and older.
Treatment may be unsuccessful if the medication is not utilized properly or if the lice are resistant to it. After treatment, your medical professional might recommend combing out the nits with a fine-tooth comb and likewise might recommend duplicating treatment in 7 to 10 days to kill any recently hatched nits.
Getting rid of By Hand
If your kid is 2 months old or younger, you ought to not utilize medicated lice treatments. You'll require to remove the nits and lice by hand.
To eliminate lice and nits by hand, utilize a fine-tooth comb on your kid's wet, conditioned hair every 3 to 4 days for 3 weeks after the last live louse was seen. Wetting the hair in advance is advised because it temporarily paralyzes the lice and the conditioner makes it much easier to get a comb through the hair.
There's no need to buy electronic https://liceremovallosangelescare.com/ combs that declare to eliminate lice or make nits easier to remove. No studies have actually been done to support these claims. You also don't need to purchase unique vinegar solutions to apply to the scalp before choosing nits. Excellent old-fashioned water works simply fine.
Wet combing is also an alternative to pesticide treatments in older kids. Though petroleum jelly, mayo, or olive oil are often utilized in an attempt to suffocate head lice, these treatments may not work. If medication does not work and you desire to try these methods, talk to your physician.
Ensure you get rid of nits thoroughly each week for at least 3 weeks in a row, and view your kid carefully to see if any live lice return.
For more information, contact:
Lice Removal Los Angeles Care
777 S Alameda St #29
Los Angeles, CA 90021
310-935-1644