Head Lice - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Peter Rodrick
November 11, 2008
Head lice (Pediculus capitis) are small parasitic insects exquisitely adapted to living mainly on the scalp and neck hairs of their human host. Their six impressive legs are elegantly evolved to grasp hair shafts and provide a striking example of biological specialization. Long associated with people, head lice have been recovered from prehistoric mummies. Head lice are equal opportunity parasites; they do not respect socio-economic class distinctions. Their presence does not connote a lack of hygiene or sanitation practiced by their host. Head lice are mainly acquired by direct head-to-head contact with an infested person's hair, but may infrequently be transferred with shared combs, hats and other hair accessories.
Hair Lice Cause
Head lice spread by personal contact and by sharing combs, brushes, hats, and other personal items.
Head lice are transferred by close hair-to-hair contact. They cannot jump, fly or swim, but walk from one hair to another. It is a misconception that head lice infestation is as a result of dirty hair and poor hygiene. Head lice can be found in all hair types, long or short, and in hair of any condition.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom is an itchy head (caused by the louse's saliva when it removes a tiny amount of blood from the scalp), but a person can have head lice and not know it. "The gold standard for diagnosing lice is finding a live one on the head, but they can be very difficult to spot," notes Will. They crawl fast (up to 12 inches or 30 cm per hour – that's fast if you're the size of a sesame seed!) but do not fly or jump.
Head lice may not cause any symptoms at first. Itching on the scalp may start weeks or even months after lice have started to spread. Scratching can make the skin raw. The raw skin may ooze clear fluid or crust over, and it may get infected.
Itching skin is one of the head lice symptoms and it is a sign to undertake some measures. Lice eggs or nits have to be removed by hand after shampooing to destroy lice. The feminine louse leaves the nits at the hair base close to your skin on your head and that is why it is hard to remove them, therefore a medical nit comb is required and has to be used after each application of the drug. As a rule, the special nit combs are integrated with the drug application box.
Treating head lice
Medication for lice includes lotions, cream rinses, and shampoos. For head lice, both pesticide and non-pesticide products are available. Apply the medication to the affected body areas as directed. Some people find that the effectiveness will vary with the type of product and thoroughness of application. Repeated treatments may be needed and are usually recommended. Ask a pharmacist for complete directions on how to use specific products and for recommendations on treatments based on the age of the affected person and the type of infestation.
Visit Herbal Supplements. Also visit Menopause Pain Relief and Vaginal Discharge
Hair Lice Cause
Head lice spread by personal contact and by sharing combs, brushes, hats, and other personal items.
Head lice are transferred by close hair-to-hair contact. They cannot jump, fly or swim, but walk from one hair to another. It is a misconception that head lice infestation is as a result of dirty hair and poor hygiene. Head lice can be found in all hair types, long or short, and in hair of any condition.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom is an itchy head (caused by the louse's saliva when it removes a tiny amount of blood from the scalp), but a person can have head lice and not know it. "The gold standard for diagnosing lice is finding a live one on the head, but they can be very difficult to spot," notes Will. They crawl fast (up to 12 inches or 30 cm per hour – that's fast if you're the size of a sesame seed!) but do not fly or jump.
Head lice may not cause any symptoms at first. Itching on the scalp may start weeks or even months after lice have started to spread. Scratching can make the skin raw. The raw skin may ooze clear fluid or crust over, and it may get infected.
Itching skin is one of the head lice symptoms and it is a sign to undertake some measures. Lice eggs or nits have to be removed by hand after shampooing to destroy lice. The feminine louse leaves the nits at the hair base close to your skin on your head and that is why it is hard to remove them, therefore a medical nit comb is required and has to be used after each application of the drug. As a rule, the special nit combs are integrated with the drug application box.
Treating head lice
Medication for lice includes lotions, cream rinses, and shampoos. For head lice, both pesticide and non-pesticide products are available. Apply the medication to the affected body areas as directed. Some people find that the effectiveness will vary with the type of product and thoroughness of application. Repeated treatments may be needed and are usually recommended. Ask a pharmacist for complete directions on how to use specific products and for recommendations on treatments based on the age of the affected person and the type of infestation.
Visit Herbal Supplements. Also visit Menopause Pain Relief and Vaginal Discharge