Lice are tiny mites that can infect the scalp and skin. They cause intense itching and can create a rash on the skin as well. There are three different kinds of lice that are identified based on the body part that they affect. Both children and adults can be infected with lice, and the infestation will only get worse without treatment. Over time, an increasingly large infestation of lice can lead to serious secondary health concerns.
There are three types of lice. They all cause the same symptoms, but they affect different areas of the body.
In most cases, lice cause these symptoms:
Lice feed on human blood and are attracted to humans as an ideal host. You can get lice by coming into contact with those who have them or from handling or using things like hair brushes or clothing that is contaminated with lice or their eggs. Sexual contact can also transmit lice. Lastly, furniture can also carry lice and infect you and your family.
The risk factors for lice are:
Diagnosis is often made by physical examination. Nits (egg cases) might be present on the hair of an infected person, and lice are also visible to the naked eye. In severe infestation cases, lice might be seen jumping around on the body or the top of the head. The rash that is related to lice infestation is also very recognizable, making it easy for doctors to identify and diagnose lice.
Prevention of lice is often very easy for adults. There is less likelihood of infection through sharing of objects or things like hair brushes. Children are much less likely to observe these kinds of rules. Parents will need to encourage children to avoid sharing hair brushes and things like hair ties. Head-to-head contact should be avoided as well.
Children in school will need to be advised about keeping their scarves, hats, and jackets separate from those belonging to other children as well. If you know that someone has lice of some kind or that someone’s child has lice, you will want to avoid coming into contact with them until the lice have been eradicated. If you or your child have lice, you will need to limit contact with others until the infestation has been treated.
Treatment of head lice is done with shampoos that contain permethrin, which helps kill lice and loosen nits from the hair shaft. There are also lotions made of ivermectin that might be used on the skin to kill lice. The hair will need to be combed with a nit comb, which has very fine teeth. This will remove eggs from the hair before they can hatch. There are also oral prescription drugs like ivermectin that can be taken to kill lice, although usually, this is only done in cases that have not responded to other therapies.
Body lice infections can be treated with a permethrin body wash that will need to be used for nine days. Clothing, bedding, and all other fabric items in the house will need to be washed at a temperature of 54C and then dried at high heat to kill nits. Pubic lice are treated with the same protocol as body lice.
The home should also be vacuumed thoroughly and non washable items should be sealed into an airtight bag for two weeks minimum.