found on the heads of people. They are also known as Prediculus / humanus Capitis. Head lice are tiny wingless insects that can not fly. They hold on tightly to hair shafts with hook like claws and live by sucking blood from the scalp. Head lice can survive on person’s head for up to thirty days. They are commonly found on the scalp behind the ear, near the neckline and at the back of the neck. Having head lice is very common. According to a survey, approximately 6 to 12 million people worldwide get head lice every year.

Symptoms of Head Lice

Following are the symptoms of head lice infestations:

Ø    Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair.

Ø    Itching on the scalp caused by allergic reaction to the bites of head lice.

Ø    Red sores of the head caused by scratching. It may cause bacterial skin infection.

Transmission of Head Lice

In most cases, transmission of head lice occurs by direct contact with the head of another infested person. Head lice are common in Pre-school and elementary age children. Girls get head lice more than boys. Indirect spread of head lice occurs by sharing personal things of an infested individual. For example, head lice can spread by using the objects like combs, brushes, towels and wearing hair ribbons, hats, scarves etc of an infested person.

Treatments

Following are some important treatments of head lice:

Use fine toothed comb to remove the nits: Combing the hair with effective lice comb is essential activity in treating the head lice. Part the hair into four section and start combing at the scalp. Then pull the lice comb all through to the ends of the hair. The LiceOut and the LiceMeister are the two combs that work very well in removing of nits.

Use Medications: Medication is used to get rid of head lice in the infested person. These medicines are available in different forms in market such as head lice shampoo, lotion and cream. (Our Head Lice Home Remedies offered on this site are our preferred methodes to get rid of head lice. Medications are a last resort in our opinion. But, we are not Doctors and can only give our opinions based on personal experience)

Use Vinegar: Apply vinegar t wet hair. It loosens the nits from hairs making them easier to remove.

Wash out personal items: Wash out or dry clean the personal items such as towels, scarves, hats to get rid of head lice. Soak the lice combs and brushes in alcohol or hot water for one hour.

The head lice are a tiny and wingless insect, which infects children’s scalp, ages 3 to 12 years. The head lice lives on scalp of victims and feeds itself on blood, drawn from the scalp, several times a day, in minor quantity. The head lice are tiny but can be seen by the naked eye or seen by the use of a magnifying glass. The lice lay their eggs (nits) on hairs of scalp. The eggs of lice resemble dandruff and hatch in 1 to 2 weeks. The head lice are a contagious and an annoying disease. The children complain of tickling sensation and itching on their heads. The bites of head lice cause irritation on child’s scalp, which becomes itchy and repeated scratching by child causes inflammation of scalp and then development of skin infection. In worst cases, the regional lymph glands are swollen and painful. If you observe that your child is constantly scratching his or her head or complains of an itching scalp then you can consult your doctor. The doctor will diagnose the problem and will recommend necessary treatment.

Preventive Measures:

The head lice spread mainly by head-to-head contact, sharing of clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats. If a child gets head lice infestation, then take under mentioned steps to get rid of lice and its re-infestation. Washing of all bed covers and clothing, that has been used by anyone having head lice infestation, in boiling water for at least half an hour. Clean the combs, hair ties, bands, headbands and brushes with alcohol or medicated  shampoo. Since head lice are passed from person to person in the same house, bedmates and infested family members will also need treatment to prevent the lice from coming back. The head lice can be prevented by telling kids to avoid head to head contact with other children at school and during play, not to share combs, brushes, hats, scarves, bands, ribbons, hair ties or bands, towels, helmets, or other personal care items with anyone else, not to lie on bedding, pillows, and carpets that have recently been used by someone having head lice.

Treatment:

Your doctor will give necessary medications to treat the kid. Follow his advice carefully. Reassure the kid that having head lice doesn’t mean that he is dirty. This reassurance by parents can help their children to be a victim of guilt. The parents should be aware of the fact that most of medicines required to treat the head lice are insecticides and they should not start medication, if their child in under two years of age.