Head lice are the major problem with school-going kids especially. It is something that bothers the mommies a lot, but the good thing is they cannot cause any disease either not related to chronic illnesses. Well still, mothers find possible lice removal ways to make their kid’s head free from the bugs. Whenever you see your kid itchy the first thing that comes to your mind is it could be because of the dirty head. But the fact is, there is no connection of lice with dirty heads, oils, dust, or any other hair product that can never cause lice.
These lice are tiny bugs, with a size of around 2-3 mm long. They have a pale and gray color, but it varies. The blood of our heads is their feed, and they can hardly live for 1-2 days without blood. They usually live for around 28 days, and they grow in three phases: nit or egg, nymph, and louse. If they are not treated well, they can repeat their cycle after every three weeks.
Where they are commonly found?
You can easily identify where the lice are when you see your kid scratching the head. They are mainly present on the scalp of the head. The lice and nits are small in size, and when they bite, it feels likes needles. You cannot easily find them by hand. Though, their favorite places to hide and where they lay their eggs as well are bind the ponytails and braids, behind ears, temples of the head, and nape of the neck.
The Symptoms of Head Lice
The most common symptom of head lice is the itchy scalp. The scratching occurs behind the ears and at the back of the neck. When you see these signs, go for lice removal instantly before they multiply. The reason for itching is the head becomes sensitive to lice saliva, and it takes around 4 to 6 weeks when lice get on the scalp.
Common Causes of Lice
The only way the lice transmit from one person to another is by direct head contact. There is no way that the lice could fly, jump or hoop to the heads. People can only get lice if they have close contact. Moreover, it could be transmitted by sharing the items such as hats, scarves, helmets, or combs. There are a lot of common myths about lice spread, such as dust, dirty head, poor hygiene, or lifestyle changes, but lice cannot nurture due to these reasons.
Lice Removal by Hand
There are a lot of lice removal products available in the market that could help get rid of these tiny itchy creatures. But medicines are not always 100% cure. If you think the head of your kid is still itchy removing lice by hand will complete your job. This is something time-consuming but on the other hand effective. This is the best option for people who want to avoid using insecticides on their kid’s sensitive scalp as there may be some side effects.
Talk to your Children about Lice Prevention
It is important to have a conversation about lice prevention and precautions with your children, it might be embarrassing for them, but you will get away. Make your kids aware of not sharing stuff with the kids they know have lice, such as hats, scarves, combs, or other items. Tell your kids not to have any physical or close contact with the people who possibly have lice in school or even in the house. If your kid goes to school or daycare, tell them if your child has head lice.