Head Lice And Diagnosing The Problem
What people commonly refer to as lice, is actually a group of small insects called a louse. It lives human beings, usually on the scalp. It feeds off of blood. Every year there are millions of Americans dealing with the issue of head lice or body lice. Most of these are usually children, as they are most susceptible. A school setting promotes the spread od lice since there are many children in close proximity.
It is quite simple to diagnose for head lice. You can look for the shiny white eggs in the hair or the presence of lice bites. However, the best way to check if a person has head lice would be to use a lice comb. The lice comb can be examined after combing their hair thoroughly, for any presence of lice.
Checking your children daily for head lice is the best prevention method for parents. Most schools in the United States will dismiss children from class immediately if head lice are discovered, and will not be allowed back until the problem is dealt with and all of the lice are removed and destroyed.
Lice can be difficult to see and sometimes go undetected for a long time. It is important to check your own child regularly to make sure he or she has not been infected by another child. This is especially important for children between the ages of four and twelve, since this group is most at risk.
Keeping your child's hair short will help him avoid picking up nits. If he does become infected, however, you must wash all bedding and towels and treat his head at least once to get rid of the problem. Do not send your child to school while he has an active infestation, because head lice pass from child to child very quickly. The most obvious clue that a child has head lice is if you see him continually scratching or digging at his head and scalp.
Several options for treatment are now available for removing a lice infestation. If you or your child runs into that problem, you can choose from natural products and hot hair to silicone based lotions currently on the market. Remember though, no one treatment method is always effective to finish the job completely. Prevent a reoccurrence by keeping a close eye on the situation.
Between six and twelve million people in the U.S. alone struggle with infestations of head lice and body lice each year. Lice date back to ancient times, and they have lived as parasites on our bodies and scalps ever since. An adult louse has no wings, so when he finds a head to live on, he's there to stay. His only food is human blood. Most schools in the United States have a no nit policy which means that children with lice are dismissed from class until the problem is dealt with and all lice have been removed.
Published February 16th, 2008