The head louse is a small, wingless parasitic bug that lives in human hairs and feeds upon small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Lice (the plural of louse) are a very common problem, particularly for kids. They're contagious, bothersome, and sometimes tough to get rid of.
While they're annoying to deal with, lice aren't hazardous. They do not spread out illness, although their bites can make a child's scalp itchy and inflamed, and scratching can lead to infection.
It's best to treat head lice quickly once they're discovered due to the fact that they can spread out easily from person to person.
Signs of Head Lice
They're really little, lice can be seen by the naked eye. Here are things to search for:
Lice eggs (called nits). Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch.
Unless the problem is heavy, it's more typical to see nits in a kid'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 (infant lice). The adult louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and is grayish-white or tan. Nymphs are smaller and end up being adult lice about 1 to 2 weeks after they hatch. If head lice is not dealt with, this procedure repeats itself about every 3 weeks. Many 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 irritation is mild; for others, a more irritating rash may develop. Extreme scratching can lead to a bacterial infection (this can trigger inflamed lymph glands and red, tender skin that might have crusting and exuding). If your physician thinks this holds true, she or he may deal with the infection with an oral antibiotic.
You may be able to see the lice or nits by parting your child's hair into little sections and checking for lice and nits with a fine-tooth comb on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the neck of the neck (it's uncommon for them to be discovered on eyelashes or eyebrows).
A magnifying glass and brilliant light may assist. However it can be hard to discover a nymph or adult louse-- typically, there aren't much of them and they move fast.
See your doctor if your kid is continuously scratching his or her head or suffers an itchy scalp that won't go away. The physician must have the ability to inform you if your kid is plagued with lice and needs to be treated. Not all kids have the traditional signs of head lice and some can be symptom-free.
Be sure to examine with your kid's school nurse or childcare center director to see if other kids have just recently been treated for lice. If you find that your kid does, certainly, have lice or nits, call the staff at the school and child care center to let them know.
Are Lice Contagious?
Lice are extremely infectious and can spread rapidly from person to person, especially in group settings (like schools, child care centers, slumber parties, sports activities, and camps).
They can't fly or leap, these small parasites have specifically adjusted claws that let them crawl and cling securely to hair. They spread out mainly through head-to-head contact, however sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats also can pass them along. Kids are most susceptible to capturing lice because they tend to have close physical contact with each other and share individual products.
And you may question if Fido or Fluffy might be catching the insects and passing them on to your household. Rest ensured that pets can't capture head lice and pass them on to individuals or the other www.liceremovallosangelescare.com way around.
Treatment
Your physician can advise a medicated shampoo, cream rinse, or lotion to eliminate the lice. Medicated lice treatments usually kill the lice, however it might take a few days for the itching to stop.
Make sure that the medicine is safe for your kid's age. While over the counter hair shampoos are safe for kids as young as 2 months, other medications are only safe for kids 2 years and older.
Treatment may be unsuccessful if the medication is not utilized properly or if the lice are resistant to it. After treatment, your doctor may recommend combing the nits with a fine-tooth comb and likewise may recommend repeating treatment in 7 to 10 days to eliminate any freshly hatched nits.
Getting rid of By Hand
If your child is 2 months old or younger, you ought to not utilize medicated lice treatments. You'll require to get rid of the nits and lice by hand.
To remove 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 ahead of time is suggested because it momentarily debilitates the lice and the conditioner makes it simpler to get a comb through the hair.
There's no requirement to purchase electronic combs that claim to eliminate lice or make nits much easier to get rid of. No studies have actually been done to support these claims. You also don't require to purchase special vinegar services to apply to the scalp prior to choosing nits. Good old-fashioned water works simply fine.
Wet combing is likewise an alternative to pesticide treatments in older kids. Though petroleum jelly, mayonnaise, or olive oil are in some cases utilized in an effort to suffocate head lice, these treatments might not work. If medication doesn't work and you desire to attempt these techniques, talk to your medical professional.
Make sure you remove nits thoroughly every week for at least 3 weeks in a row, and watch your child closely 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