Lice

Lice in General:

Lice are wingless insects that spend their entire lives attached to a host. They are quite small in size, with stout legs and claws which allow them to cling tightly to fur, hair and feathers. They are wingless and characterized by being flattened. Lice are attracted to clean hair, contrary to popular belief. They do not like oil at all, so one of the best ways of getting rid of them is to wash your hair in olive oil. Lice have relatively advanced chewing mouth parts, which is how they are able to feed on skin, blood and other debris found on the host body.

Lice are considered scavengers—they feed on skin and other debris in most instances, but sometimes they feed on secretions and blood. Most lice are found on specific types of animals, and usually only on a particular area of that animal. In humans, for instance, lice will only ever be found in the hair and pubic hair. They cannot survive for long if removed from the host. Lice tend to be pale beige or dark grey, and can sometimes be darker if they are feeding on blood.

History of Lice Infestation:

There are three types of lice that can infect humans: pubic lice, head lice, and clothing lice, which live mainly in clothing. Studies of lice DNA indicate that pubic lice were spread to humans approximately 3 million years ago from ancestors of humans who shared the same bed or other communal area. These pubic lice are more closely related to the lice that inhabited gorillas than are the other two types of lice that can affect humans.

Lice Pediculosis:

Pediculosis is the infestation of lice. It can occur in most warm-blooded animals—notably mammals and birds. The most common infestation of lice in humans manifests itself as head lice. It is most frequent in smaller children and their families. Most children contract head lice from direct head contact with other children. From each egg a nymph will hatch and develop into an adult louse (the singular form of lice.)The lice feed on blood by piercing the skin with their sharp little mouths. They excrete saliva, which irritates skin and causes itching. Lice cannot, however, burrow into skin.

Lice Diagnosis and Lice Treatment:

To diagnose lice infestation, you must use a louse comb and carefully comb all over the entire scalp. You will have a clear indicator that you have lice by extreme itching and irritation. Check the comb for visible presence of lice. The itching won’t intensify until about 3-4 weeks after the infection. There is no 100% effective way of treating lice, but there are many effective ways of getting rid of them, such as chemical treatments, natural products, combs, shaving, etc. Constantly monitoring your child’s head and hair is advisable as well.

Lice Treatment Overview:

There is no treatment or product that can cure a lice infestation 100%. However, there are methods that have been proven successful to varying degrees. Since the mid 1960s, lice outbreaks have increased significantly in the US. Various debates have arisen about the treatment of lice. Generally, each individual should develop their own method for eradicating lice. Various methods include chemical treatments, natural products, combs, shaving, hot air, and silicone-based lotions.