Head Lice Facts And Prevention Information

By Author: Marshall Littman
Total Articles: 19
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Head lice are tiny insects, barely visible to the human eye, that live in hair and feed on a person's blood through the skin. Head lice are commonly found on school aged children, especially in the areas around the back of the neck and the back of the ears. While any person can catch head lice, the most common carriers of the bug are school children because of their close proximity to other children in school and the fact that children are more likely to share items that can spread lice, like combs, hats, certain pieces of clothing, etc. Family members and other individuals who share a living space with school aged children are also more susceptible to head lice than those who do not.

Contrary to popular belief, head lice are not able to jump or fly. This means that they can only be spread through direct contact with a person or item that is host to the lice.

At first, a person who has caught head lice may not show any symptoms of the bug. In fact, a person carrying head lice may not even notice the most common symptoms, like itching and redness around the affected skin, for several weeks or months after ...
... spreading begins. In some cases, the affected skin has been known to crust over and ooze a clear fluid. This can happen after constant scratching of the affected area. In even more extreme cases of head lice, hair may fall out of the scalp or the affected area of skin may grow dark.

A doctor or pediatrician can usually determine whether or not a person is infested with lice just by examining the suspected area of infestation closely. To be sure, some doctors will even examine a sample of affected skin / hair under a microscope.

A lice infestation is something that is usually as easy to treat as it is to contract. In most cases, a lice infestation can be treated with over the counter medications, certain lotions, or specifically designed shampoos. If over the counter solutions don't work, a doctor may prescribe other medications in pill form.

In order to treat a lice infestation in children, parents and guardians must remember that they are fighting an actual bug, which means they must also consider eggs and lice living in clothing, bed spreads, curtains, etc. In most cases, a two part treatment is recommended. The first part of the treatment is meant to kill off any living head lice on a person, while the second treatment is often recommended to kill off any remaining and un-hatched lice eggs. Even if a person's head lice are effectively treated, a person may become re-infested if items and fabrics that they commonly come in contact with are still infested with the lice. Likewise, if one person in a residence is infested and treated, they may become re-infested if co-habitants are also carriers of the bug and go untreated. The ease with which head lice can re-infest a person has prompted many health care professionals to recommend that if one person in a home is treated for head lice that every person living in the home be treated for head lice as well.

Any person who thinks that they or their child may be infested with head lice should contact a licensed medical professional to determine the type and severity of the infestation. Regular checks of a person's scalp may help prevent the spread of head lice before symptoms begin to show.

Dr. Marshall J. Littman is a San Diego Pediatrician who has been in practice for 35 years. He is also a member of Children's Physicians Medical Group.