#26 Head Lice | Dr. Shabari Arumugam
What are head lice?
What are the symptoms of head lice infestation?
Self-care (What can I do?)
Can head lice infestation be prevented?
Welcome! The topic for this week post is head lice
What are head lice?
Head lice are very common. They are small (adult lice are the size of a sesame seed) grey-brown insects that live only on human scalps. They cannot fly or jump; neither can they burrow into the scalp. They can affect anyone, with long or short hair, no matter how clean the hair is.
How are head lice acquired?
Head lice are usually picked up by head-to-head contact; it takes about 30 seconds for a single louse to transfer from one scalp to another. Less often, sharing hats, combs or pillows can spread them. Head lice live only on humans and die in a day or two away from the human scalp. They cannot be caught from animals.
Head lice can affect anyone, but are:
- Most common in children between the ages of 4 and 11
- More common in girls than boys
- Most often found at the start of the school year
Are head lice infestations hereditary?
No, though several members of a family may have them at the same time.
What are the symptoms of head lice infestation?
Head lice have to feed on human blood several times a day to survive, and their bites, saliva and faeces often make the scalp itchy. Some people may be unaware they have head lice as they do not experience the itch and other symptoms. This lack of itching does not mean that lice are not present, and the only way to be sure is by taking a careful look at the scalp. If the skin becomes infected with the bacteria that cause impetigo, the scalp may become sore and children may have a raised temperature and feel unwell.
Can a head lice infestation be cured?
Yes, but this is not always easy as some lice are now resistant to the insecticides used to treat them, and repeated infestations are common.
How can a head lice infestation be treated?
Treatment is needed only when an active louse infestation is present; as shown by the presence of living and moving lice, or of eggs that have not hatched and are attached to the hairs close to the scalp. Neither itching by itself, nor evidence of an old infestation (only empty egg cases), is a reason for starting treatment.
In general, when using the treatments, the following points should be kept in mind:
- Treatment should applied to dry hair, to all areas of scalp, and to all hairs from their roots to their tips
- Usually, two applications, 7 days apart are needed to kill the lice that have hatched after the first application
- Head lice shampoos are less effective than lotions, as they are diluted too much and have an insufficient contact time to kill eggs
When lice do not clear
There are several reasons why things may not get better after treatment:
- The diagnosis of head lice infestation may have been incorrect
- You may not have followed the treatment instructions correctly
- The lice may have been resistant to the chosen treatment
- You may have picked up a new infestation immediately after the treatment finished
Self-care (What can I do?)
- After the treatment is complete you should check every week, for a month, to make sure the lice are clear.
- Make sure that everyone who has been in contact with an affected person is examined to ensure that they have not got head lice too; this especially applies to members of the same household and to close school friends.
- All affected members of the household should be treated at the same time.
- The combs and brushes of an infested person should be washed in hot water daily.
There is no need to keep children with head lice away from school as long as the advice given above is being followed.
Can head lice infestation be prevented?
Children of primary school age should be examined regularly at home using a nit comb to identify infestation early as prompt treatment helps prevent further spread.
Do not use chemicals regularly in an attempt to prevent an infestation occurring; this simply encourages the emergence of resistant strains of lice.
- BAD
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