The head louse is a small, wingless parasitic insect that lives in human hairs and feeds upon small quantities of blood drawn from the scalp. Lice (the plural of louse) are an extremely common problem, especially for kids. They're contagious, annoying, and often hard to get rid of.
But while they're irritating to handle, lice aren't unsafe. They do not spread out disease, although their bites can make a child's scalp itchy and irritated, and scratching can cause infection.
It's finest to deal with head lice rapidly when they're found because they can spread easily from person to person.
Indications of Head Lice
Although they're really small, lice can be seen by the naked eye. Here are things to try to find:
Lice eggs (called nits). Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature level is perfect for keeping warm till they hatch.
Unless the problem 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.
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 sized 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 feed on blood several times a day, and they can survive approximately 2 day of rests the scalp.
With lice bites come itching and scratching. The itching may not always begin right away-- that depends on how sensitive a kid's skin is to the lice. It can in some cases take weeks for kids with lice to start scratching.
Little red bumps or sores from scratching. For some kids, the inflammation is mild; for others, a more irritating rash may establish. Excessive scratching can lead to a bacterial infection (this can trigger swollen lymph glands and red, tender skin that may have crusting and exuding). If your doctor believes this is the case, he or she might treat the infection with an oral antibiotic.
You might be able to see the lice or nits by parting your kid's hair into small sections and checking for lice and nits with a fine-tooth comb on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the nape of the neck (it's rare for them to be discovered on eyelashes or eyebrows).
A magnifying glass and bright light may help. It can be tough to discover a nymph or adult louse-- frequently, there aren't many of them and they move quickly.
See your physician if your child is continuously scratching his or her head or suffers an itchy scalp that will not disappear. The doctor needs to be able to inform you if your child is infested with lice and requires to be treated. Not all kids have the timeless symptoms of head lice and some can be symptom-free.
Be sure to inspect with your kid's school nurse or childcare center director to see if other kids have actually just recently been treated for lice. If you find that your kid does, indeed, have lice or nits, contact the staff at the school and child care center to let them know.
Are Lice Contagious?
Lice are extremely infectious and can spread out quickly from person to person, specifically in group settings (like schools, child care centers, slumber parties, sports activities, and camps).
Though they can't fly or jump, these small parasites have actually specifically adjusted claws that let them crawl and stick firmly to hair. They spread out mainly through head-to-head contact, however sharing clothes, bed linens, 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 personal products.
And you may question if Fido or Fluffy might be catching the insects and passing them on to your household. However rest assured that animals can't capture head lice and pass them on to people or the other way around.
Treatment
Your medical professional can recommend a medicated shampoo, cream rinse, or cream to eliminate the lice. These may be over the counter (OTC) or prescription medications, depending upon what treatments have already been tried. Medicated lice treatments usually kill the lice, but it might take a couple of days for the itching to stop. For very resistant lice, an oral medication (medication taken by mouth) might be recommended.
Make certain that the medicine is safe for your child's age. While over the counter hair shampoos are safe for kids as young as 2 months, other medicines are just safe for kids 2 years and older. It's crucial to follow the directions precisely due to the fact that these products are insecticides. Using excessive medication-- or using it frequently-- can increase the threat of harm. Follow the directions on the item label.
Treatment may be unsuccessful if the medication is not used properly or if the lice are resistant to it. After treatment, your medical professional may suggest combing out the nits with a fine-tooth comb and likewise might advise repeating 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 more youthful, you must not utilize medicated lice treatments. You'll need to remove the nits and lice by hand.
To get rid of lice and nits by hand, use a fine-tooth comb on your child's damp, conditioned hair every 3 to 4 days for 3 weeks after the last live louse was seen. Moistening the hair beforehand is recommended because it temporarily paralyzes the lice and the conditioner makes it simpler to get a comb through the hair.
There's no need to buy electronic combs that claim to eliminate lice or make nits much easier to remove. No studies have actually been done to back up these claims. You also do not need to purchase special vinegar options to apply www.liceremovallosangelescare.com to the scalp before selecting nits. Great old-fashioned water works simply great.
Wet combing is also an alternative to pesticide treatments in older kids. Petroleum jelly, mayonnaise, or olive oil are often used in an effort to suffocate head lice, these treatments may not work. If medicine does not work and you desire to attempt these techniques, talk to your physician.
Ensure you get rid of nits carefully each week for a minimum of 3 weeks in a row, and see your child 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