How to Get Rid of Head Lice and Nits
Getting head lice and nits is a horrible experience for anyone, but with the right treatment, it can be a breeze to rid your head of them. Read this article to learn about what to do to get rid of the parasites.
Symptoms of an infestation
Symptoms of an infestation of head lice and nits can vary from person to person. Typically, itching is the main symptom. This is caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the louse. Some people experience itching for several weeks after they have acquired the infestation.
Head lice and nits can be spread to other people by direct head-to-head contact, or by contact with personal items. This includes hair brushes, combs, towels, and clothing.
The risk of head lice and nits spreading from one person to another is low, but it can happen. There are ways to keep them from spreading, including not sharing hats, hat covers, or coats. You can also keep combs and brushes in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks.
If you have an active infestation, you should treat all household members. This is the best way to avoid spreading the disease.
After treatment, you should check to make sure the infestation is gone. If it is not gone, you should consult a doctor. If your infestation is not going away, you may need to see a dermatologist.
There are over-the-counter drugs that work well to treat head lice and nits. You can also see a doctor for a prescription treatment.
The best way to prevent head lice and nits is to avoid sharing personal items, such as hats, coats, towels, and combs. You should also make sure that you vacuum your home. If you do not vacuum, you can use a special fine-tooth comb to scrape nits off the hair shaft.
Head lice and nits do not spread disease. However, they can cause itchiness and sores on the head. This itch can lead to scratching, which can cause sores to become infected with bacteria.
An infestation of head lice and nits can take any length of time to go away. This is not a health hazard, but it is a bother. A person with an active infestation should treat all household members and avoid sharing personal items. If your infestation is going away, you should return to school or daycare.
Diagnosis
Symptoms of head lice and nits are often not apparent until two weeks after a person has been infested. They include itching, scratch marks, and a rash. However, some people do not have any symptoms at all.
It is also important to note that head lice and nits can be transmitted by physical contact. The best way to prevent lice is to avoid head-to-head contact.
Lice and nits are small, wingless, and parasitic insects that live in human hair. They move from person to person by crawling or by traveling through personal items. They are most contagious during play and when people sleep on the same bed.
There are two kinds of head lice: nymph and adult. Nymphs are small, wingless insects that hide from view. They can move around in human hair but they are difficult to locate. They usually are found in the hair behind the ears or along the nape of the neck.
Adult lice are much larger and can be found on the scalp or in the hair. They are often sesame or nut-like in appearance. They are fast and usually avoid light.
To determine if you have an infestation, you will need to locate live lice and nits on your scalp. You may use a fine-toothed louse comb or a magnifying glass to help you locate them. Nits can be difficult to remove, and many nits look like dirt.
If you are unsure whether you have lice, contact your doctor or health department. He or she can give you a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. There are FDA-approved treatments such as shampoos, lotions, and prescription drugs.
You should also check your child’s hair regularly. This is important because lice and nits are very contagious. The easiest way to prevent lice is to keep your child away from head-to-head contact.
It is also important to avoid sharing combs, brushes, and hair accessories. You can also avoid sharing hats and stuffed animals.
It is also important to take action immediately if you find a live louse on your child’s head. You should notify your child’s teacher, school officials, and any other person who has contact with your child.
Treatment
Whether you are a parent, educator, or health care professional, the treatment of head lice and nits is important. Head lice are small insects that live on human scalps and feed on blood. They are usually transmitted by direct head-to-head contact. Aside from head-to-head contact, they can also be transferred from one person to another via personal items. The best prevention is to avoid physical contact with someone who has head lice.
Once you know that someone in your family has head lice, it is important to treat them as soon as possible. It is best to have all household members checked for lice at the same time.
The first line of treatment is the use of permethrin, pyrethrin, or spinosad. These are all approved by the FDA for head lice treatment.
Another treatment option is the use of benzyl alcohol lotion. This product is FDA approved for use on children six months or older. It is not ovicidal and is effective against live lice. However, it can be irritating to the skin.
A third option is to apply a cream containing ivermectin, a prescription drug. This product is also effective against head lice but is not approved for lice treatment. The cream should be applied to towel-dried hair. After a short time, rinse it off.
In addition to benzyl alcohol lotion and ivermectin, there are other head lice treatments. For children six months and older, a product containing dimethicone can be used.
The treatment of head lice and nits should be supervised by an adult. Depending on the severity of the infestation, you may need to comb the hair in a series of sessions over a few weeks. You should use a special louse comb or a magnifying lens to help locate live lice and nits.
It is important to follow treatment instructions carefully to prevent re-infestation. If you are unsure about the treatment, see your doctor.
Head lice can be easily passed from person to person. Luckily, most people do not experience symptoms or signs of infestation.
In addition to following treatment instructions, it is also important to take preventative measures. Avoid sharing hats, hairbrushes, and other personal items. If you are unable to wash an item, put it in a plastic bag for two weeks. It is also important to vacuum furniture, carpets, car seats, and other areas that may be infested.
Prevention
During the school year, parents should check their child’s heads often. This includes checking for the presence of head lice and nits.
The most important prevention is to prevent head-to-head contact. This means not sharing items such as brushes, combs, hats, or headphones with other people. These items can be a direct breeding ground for lice.
Another preventative measure is to wash personal items such as hats, headphones, and sweaters in hot water. You can also dry them in a hot dryer.
It is also important to keep your child’s personal items out of common areas. Examples of shared belongings include car seats, pillows, and headphones. This does not mean that you cannot use these items, but you should keep them separate from other items.
Parents can also teach their children to avoid activities that may spread head lice. For example, children who play together may naturally put their heads close together. This is not a big risk.
However, head lice can spread to other people when they share personal items. Parents can teach their children to hang their personal items when they go to school and to avoid head-to-head contact.
If you find head lice or nits on your child’s head, you should comb the area with a lice comb. Doing so may be easier if your child’s hair is wet. You can also use a magnifying glass to examine the hair.
Using a hair conditioner can help suffocate the lice. Leaving the conditioner on the child’s hair for 15 minutes is also recommended.
If you do find head lice, you should notify your child’s school, child care service, and preschool. You should also consult with your doctor.
The best prevention is to avoid physical contact with people with lice. You can also treat the entire family to prevent re-infestation. If you cannot treat the entire family, you can use a special hairspray to contain stray hair.
Using a nit comb is another effective method of detecting and removing head lice and nits. It is not recommended to use fumigant fog, which can be toxic if inhaled.
Health Sources:
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U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
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Health A-Z. (2022, April 26). Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/health-a-z-4014770
Harvard Health. (2015, November 17). Health A to Z. https://www.health.harvard.edu/health-a-to-z
Health Conditions A-Z Sitemap. (n.d.). EverydayHealth.com. https://www.everydayhealth.com/conditions/
