Lice, prevention and elimination

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ...

• Lice mainly colonize the heads of 3- to 11-year-olds.
• Signs of infestation: itchy head, skin hypersensitivity, scratching lesions, irritability ...
• Treatment: pediculicides, manual mechanical removal of lice and nits, and environmental measures to prevent future infestation.

Introduction

Anyone in close contact with another person who already has lice is at higher risk of becoming infested, but children are by far the most frequently 'colonized' by this annoying parasite, especially between the ages of 3 to 11 years.

The reason must be sought in the type of activities that the little ones carry out and in the close interaction that they maintain between them to carry them out (in particular, head-to-head contact). The louse moves by walking from one head to another, it does not fly or jump. Other high-risk individuals are all adults directly involved in children's activities, whether for professional reasons (teachers, monitors, pediatricians, etc.) or family. Lice can sometimes be acquired by contact with clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, and other personal items (towels, brushes, etc.) that belong to an infested person. Neither personal hygiene nor cleanliness at home or at school have anything to do with the infestation of lice in a person; in fact, they are said to prefer clean hair. Girls have a greater predisposition, without the exact cause being known. Lice are known to have no preferences in hair type, color, and length.

What are the signs and symptoms of lice infestation?

• Itchy head, even at night when the child is asleep, due to the secretions released by the louse when sucking.
• Hypersensitivity of the skin and inflammatory reaction caused also by the saliva of the louse.
• Lesions derived from scratching (skin erosions, scabs, etc.).
• bacterial infections from scratching lesions.
• Swollen glands in the neck area and especially in the nape, crown and behind the pinna.
• Irritability, malaise, headaches, low-grade fever, etc.

How is the infestation diagnosed?

The infestation can be diagnosed by looking closely at the leather ca belludo looking for nits or adult lice. The latter are not easy to find because they flee from the light and move quickly; instead, the nits are easier to see. Nits appear to the eye as small white or yellowish-brown spots, strongly attached to the hair, so that they are difficult to remove. We will distinguish them from dandruff because it separates from the hair easily. Nits should be looked for especially on the nape and behind the ears, near the scalp (several millimeters from the hair root). The search for adult lice is made easier if the hair is wet, as the parasite's movements are more clumsy. You can put a white towel over your shoulders to better see the lice that are falling.

What is the treatment to eliminate lice?

To achieve an effective treatment we must carry out three basic measures:

• Pediculicide treatment
• Manual mechanical removal of lice and nits
• Environmental measures to avoid transmission and reinfestation.

Treatments Within the pediculicides we can distinguish two large groups by their mode of action: the chemical pediculicides (the most used classically) and the physical action pediculicides. The former are always applied to dry hair, accompanied by manual removal of lice and nits. Creams and lotions are more effective than shampoos that are diluted in water. After letting the product act, they should wash their hair with the usual shampoo, comb it and let it air dry. Pediculicides should only be used in cases where there is an infestation, since their main and only mission is to eliminate the parasite. They should not be used to prevent possible infestations, both because of the possible side effects derived from the application of any of its compounds and because of the possibility of creating resistance to the treatments. Pediculicides with physical action are insecticides whose mechanism of action has a physical basis: they eliminate the lice without creating resistance or causing harmful effects. Formulated based on silicones, their activity lies in blocking the louse because it totally encapsulates the parasite. To ensure the effectiveness of the treatment, the application of the preparation must be repeated seven days after the application of the first dose. In this way it acts on the lice that could have hatched from the existing nits during the first phase of the treatment. The residence time of the preparation on the hair and scalp to obtain maximum effectiveness should be 8-12 h. Pediculicides, whether chemical or physical, should only be used in case of infestation, but never as a method of prevention The preparations are characterized by being odorless and colorless. For this reason, the user accepts them well, they are easy to apply and free of potentially irritating ingredients, so they are suitable formulations and very well tolerated by asthmatic patients, babies and young children, pregnant and lactating women or anyone who has problems. dermatological (sensitive skin). Manual mechanical removal is normally considered as a complementary measure to the chemical treatment of the infestation, since in addition to the treatment with the pediculicide, a comb should always be carried out with a comb with narrow teeth or lendreras. It is convenient to perform this hairstyle every 3 or 4 days for at least two weeks.

Regarding environmental measures, bed and interior linen should be washed with very hot water (50º C); If the nature of the garment does not allow this operation, it is recommended to clean them using dry heat, vaporize them with an insecticide and keep them isolated in a waterproof compartment or bag for several days; Hair care-related utensils, such as combs, brushes, barrettes, headbands, rubber bands, and headbands, should be soaked in alcohol or lice shampoo for 30 minutes or you can immerse them in boiling water for 10 minutes.

And vacuuming all rugs and carpets, as well as upholstery (both in the house and in the car).