Everything you ever wanted to know about LICE!
1. Do lice transmit disease?
No! The only thing that can happen is that the child scratches a wound and becomes infected because dirty nails.
2. How do lice spread? Are there people are more sensitive to contagion?
Lice are mainly spread through direct contact. Less than 5% of cases of contagion are caused by brushes, caps, car seats, etc. There are certain people who emit a certain smell that attracts lice more. Once infected, the louse leaves an odor trail similar to the dog that marks its territory.
3. What is the "No Nit" policy?
The “No Nit” policy defines if nits are found in a child, he will not be able to attend school until he is completely clean. It is normally applied in the USA, in Europe it is not usual yet.
4. Is contagion a sign of poor hygiene at home?
Contagion occurs through direct head to head contact and not through domestic hygiene. Regarding hair hygiene, the louse moves easier on clean than dirty hair.
5. In a new contagion, when does the female louse start to place nits?
Once pregnant the lice lay eggs immediately. Typically, the lice move in groups of 7-8 females to a single male. With so many pregnant females laying 3 to 8 eggs a day, an infestation can occur very quickly.
6. How do I know that a nit is alive?
You can take a nit out of your hair and place it on a flat surface, crush it with your nail. If it pops, it is alive, if not, it is dead or empty. It also influences the color and where it is placed in the hair. If the nit is white, it is empty. Those that are alive usually have a greyish to brownish color. If the nit is in the middle of the hair, it will probably be dead or empty. Those that are alive are very close to the scalp.
7. If my child is infected, can a shaved head be the solution?
It can, but it has to be a zero-blade cut to remove nits, as they are located at the roots of the hair. In case of girls this last resort can be very dramatic.
8. How can I encourage the school to act?
It is important to talk to school officials, however they are increasingly sensitive to this topic. If not, it is important that they understand the need for the school to take appropriate measures such as organizing educational and clarification sessions on pediculosis. If you need to, Happy Heads Clinic can help.
9. Is there a quick and 100% effective remedy?
Unfortunately, miracle products do not exist. The products only help but are not 100% effective. For this reason, we advise you to choose non-toxic and safe products.
10. Does medical insurance cover this type of treatment?
At the moment, it is not recognized as medical treatment.
11. How long can you have lice before you find out?
If you do not have an allergic reaction such as itching, months can go by without realizing it. But the normal thing is that it is discovered a month or two later by the itching.
12. In addition to itching, what other symptoms can arise?
Other symptoms can be; low fever, redness behind the neck and sleepless nights because lice are more active at night.
13. Is there a time for lice?
Although there are more cases during the school year, it is common all year round, with the number of cases being higher in the summer.
14. What treatments are there?
There are several options. There are over-the-counter products that can be chemical or natural and prescription drugs. There are also home remedies, such as oil, vinegar, etc. And today there is a lice removal service in specialized centers, such as Happy Heads Clinic. This service is healthy, 100% natural and effective.
15. If one of my children has lice, should I treat the whole family?
Before treating the whole family, it is important to check all members before treating them unnecessarily. Thereafter, take good preventive measures.
16. Can a pediculosis product be used repeatedly?
It is proven that chemical products do not kill nits that hatch between 7 to 10 days (a nymph is born), continued use of these products is detrimental to your health, in some cases, dangerous. These products help to kill lice and nymphs. For this reason, it is advisable to remove nits manually, or with a lice comb rather than the continued use of chemicals.
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