Head Lice Treatment
Head lice affect hundreds of millions of people throughout the world. Head lice infestation is caused by the louse, a 2 mm parasitic animal that lives and breeds on the human head. Although the problems caused by lice are mostly hygienic, even people with scrupulous hygiene can acquire lice. Although lice infestation can cause illnesses such as typhus, the most common effect of lice is itchy scalp and occasional bleeding that develops from scratching.
Lice are a problem unique to human beings. Unlike fleas, lice are not transmitted to humans via animals and they can not jump or fly. Rather, lice are transmitted to humans via other humans or through contact with infected inanimate objects such as hats, combs, and bedding. For this reason, routine checkups for lice—especially among children—are required to control the spread of the parasite.
The female louse may produce between 7 and 10 eggs a day during the course of her life (about a month). These eggs are called “nits" and are particularly problematic for humans because they are attached to the hair shaft through a glue-like substance that is not water-soluble and therefore difficult to remove with ordinary soap, water, or shampoo. The nits incubate for 6-10 days and then hatch into nymphs, which mature into adulthood within another 10 days.
Head lice are very common. 6-12 million people are infected each year just in the United States. Children are particularly vulnerable to head lice, and all socioeconomic classes are affected. Infestation of head lice is also not always obvious. Sometimes there are no symptoms. For this reason, schools, camps, and daycare centers should perform routine lice checks using a fine tooth comb or a black light.
Treatment for Head Lice
Treatment for head lice can be achieved using at-home remedies as soon as the lice and nits are discovered. Head lice products include Nix Lotion, Rid, A200, and Pronto shampoos. The active ingredient in head lice solutions is usually either permethrin or pyrethrin. Permethrin kills nits as well as lice. Pyrethrin kills only lice. Either product must be applied as indicated in the directions, and usually repeated after seven to ten days. Two applications are usually enough to remedy the infestation, although the scalp should be monitored until all evidence of lice and nits have vanished.
Alternative Head Lice Treatment
Natural lice treatments that do not include chemicals include nontoxic head lice products like Quit Nits. Quit Nits was developed by Leanne Preston, a single mother of three in Australia. Instead of chemicals, Quit Nits combines essential oils and natural ingredients of the Australian Outback. This alternative head lice treatment is a non toxic, low allergy formula that works without combing. The Quit Nits head lice solution is safe for pregnant and nursing mothers and was found to be more effective than most other treatments during in vitro trial.
Additional Precautions
It is prudent to rid all clothing, bedding, and products of lice debris (droppings, skins, dead lice) soon after treating infestation. This can be accomplished through washing clothes in hot water, disinfecting plastic objects and toiletries with boiling water and alcohol, sealing non washable items such as stuffed animals in plastic bags for several weeks (open out of doors), and vacuuming. It is not, however, necessary to douse the home in toxic chemicals or disinfectants.
When to Seek Additional Help
Seeing a doctor is recommended if over-the-counter treatment for head lice has failed. If home remedies and over the counter medications fail to do the trick, a doctor may prescribe Elimite cream, Kwell shampoo, or Ovide lotion. These are effective treatments, but should only be used as a secondary measure due to the neurotoxicity of the medication.
Also see a doctor is you experience unusual or allergic reactions to either the lice or the treatment. Worrisome symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes, fever, discharge, redness, swelling, pain, or tenderness.
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