HEAD LICE: Causes, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Head Lice is a tiny insect that lives in human hair. This insect feeds themselves on the blood in the scalp. It’s a condition that bothers women. It mostly affects women than men. This condition is common, especially among children. Head Lice is a condition which is hard to get rid. The bite of head lice is very itchy. Head lice lay their egg in hair close to the scalp. These eggs are called “Nits”. Head lice are contagious and they can multiply quickly.

What Causes Head Lice?

The main cause of head lice is a parasite. Head lice are also called “Pediculus Humanus Capitis”. These insects mostly occur to women and children. Head lice are contagious. There are different ways of how lice can transmit to other people such as:

• Sharing of personal things such as a comb.
• A child with head lice plays closely together with other children.
• It can also spread when a person with lice shares his personal things.

Signs and Symptoms of Head Lice

The following are symptoms that indicate you might have this condition.

• Severe/frequent itchiness
• Having a Lice on scalp
• Having a Nits (lice egg) on hair shafts
• Dead nits in the hair
• Frequent Scratching
• Sores due to scratching

Risk Factors Of Head Lice

The listed below are persons at risk of having head lice:

• A person who shares his pillow/towel with other people
• Sharing of hair accessories
• Elementary and Pre-school age
• Being a Female
• Sleepover with friends
• Overnight camp with a friend that tend to sleep together
• Having a close contact with a person with head lice

Diagnosis

The best way to diagnose head lice is finding a live nymph. Although this parasite is tiny it moves quickly as you open the hair. They are difficult to find due to they are the same as the black hair. It is advised to find a live nymph with wet hair. Your doctor may use a conditioner and fine-toothed comb to identify lice. The eggs of head lice or “Nits” are not quite difficult to find. They are attached in the hair shaft.

Treating Head Lice

There are a variety of ways to eliminate head lice in your hair. Your doctor may recommend you over-the-counter medicine. He will recommend you to use Permethrin or Pyrethrin with Additives. Other medication may include:

• Benzyl Alcohol
• Ivermectin
• Lindane
• Malathion
• Spinosad

Preventive Measures

There are ways and precaution to get rid of having head lice. By practicing the procedure below reduces your risk to head lice. Here are the following:

• Do not share your personal thing, other persons.
• Do not lay your head on beds, pillow or couches with an infected person.
• Wash your beddings and other stuff in a hot water.
• Avoid close contact with a person with head lice.
• Teach your children to avoid head to head contact during playtime.
• Use the recommended OTC medicine regularly to see best result.