Lice and nits are a common problem in children, although there are ways to prevent them, contagion is inevitable.
How does contagion occur?
Most of the time we have no idea how lice got to the heads of our kids.
The first thing to understand is that lice do not fly, nor can they jump. Therefore, it is not possible to spread lice without direct contact between the hair of an infested person and another who is not. Therefore, one of the most common preventive measures is to wear your hair up or short. Not because lice prefer short hair, but because the less volume it occupies, the less likely it is to come into contact with other hair with lice.
The 7 most common ways to catch lice
It is necessary to have direct contact between the person with parasites and someone who does not have it, so we can imagine some forms of contagion of lice and nits.
1. Play
It is the most common form of contagion, children usually play very close to each other, making their hair come into contact.
To avoid it, although difficult, the only thing we can do is try to explain to the little ones this probability, and as far as possible, they try to avoid this contact, especially when there is a greater risk of contagion (when schools warn of the plague of lice and nits).
2. Selfies, the new way of contagion of lice among children
It is the new way of transmitting lice and nits among the smallest.
Children, in order to appear in the same photo, gather in front of the cell phone. That way, your hair comes into contact and the lice can be transmitted in one of these photos.
As in the previous case, the only way to avoid this type of lice infection is to explain to children the risks of this type of photography.
3. Sharing caps and hats
Frequent on excursions and other similar situations in the daily life of the little ones. Especially important in the summer, when the little ones usually have this type of accessory and play and can change them.
The only way to avoid it is to have contact with the rest of the parents and, if there is any report about the existence of lice, ask our children not to share the hats.
4. Karts, skiing and other helmet sports
There are some sports and activities that require the use of a helmet to perform them. Like skiing in the winter or doing some water sports in the summer that require head protection or even riding a kart track for children.
It is recommended that children do not perform these activities or use their own protections.
5. Other garments, such as scarves, shirts, etc.
Any piece of clothing that can harbor lice is a potential source of infection.
Lice and nits can survive for 24 to 48 hours outside their natural habitat (the scalp), without the need for food.
6. Combs and brushes
Combs and brushes, in the case of girls, are shared regularly. It is one of the most common ways of spreading pediculosis, as it is very easy for lice to get on the hair strands that get stuck in the brushes and then are transmitted to another head.
To avoid this, we should try to have the little ones use their lice-free brushes and combs, so that they don't have to share.
7. The beach, the pool and the towels
In summer, the little ones often play with towels, which come into contact with the hair, leaving traces of hair and, occasionally, lice.
This form of contagion is extended to the rest of the year in the case of children who practice sports in swimming pools, although in these cases, the likelihood of infection is less because the activity is considered less "fun" and there are fewer games between them.
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