Head LiceHead Lice

LIFE CYCLE

General Info Head lice are catchy and are passed on

through direct contact with an infested person.

They are also transmitted through sharing of combs, brushes, hats and caps.

PEDICULOSIS: Location1. Pediculosis capitis Located on the head and

commonly known as Head Lice.

2. Pediculosis corporis o vestimentis

Human Lice that can be found on the body or in clothes.

3. Pediculosis del pubis Caused by Phthirus pubis. It is located in the pubic area.

PEDICULO CAPITIS: Characteristics

•Head lice are bloodsucking, wingless insects that live exclusively on human heads and feed on human blood.

•In her lifetime, the female louse lays between 80 and 100 eggs. There can be up to ten adult head lice on an infested person.

Nits

The eggs, which are called nits, are attached tightly to hair close to the scalp.

Nits, which are yellowish-white in colour, hatch about eight days later and mature in another eight to nine days

PEDICULOSIS CAPITIS: Symptoms, signs and complications An early symptom of a head lice infection is

itching and scratching. Another sign is the appearance of a rash, which is

often found behind the ears and on the back of the neck.

Bacterial infections. Tiny red or black louse droppings on the collar,

shoulders, back or pillows. Hypersensibility.

PEDICULOSIS CAPITIS: Treatment1. Apply 1% permethrin shampoo to the

affected head, The hair must be dry. The product should kill any living lice

2. Cover the head with a plastic shower cap, The shampoo, combined with the heat building up inside the shower cap, kills the lice. Leave this on for at least 6 hours

3. Do not dry the hair or apply other lotion after the shampoo.

4. You can use home remedies for lice treatment – such as vinegar rinses (5cc of vinegar + 100cc of water).

Vinegar makes the hair slippery and makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the nits/lice eggs to adhere to the hair.

Getting Rid of Lice in the House Getting rid of lice in the house, while time

consuming, is not nearly as 'impossible' as the hype would have us to believe.

Vacuum all carpeted surfaces. All clothing should be washed in hot water and

dried on high heat. All bedding should be washed in hot water and

dried on high heat for 20 minutes. All pillows and/or stuffed animals can be put into

the clothes dryer for 20 minutes on high heat or sealed inside a trash bag for 2 weeks to a month.

Wash any combs, brushes or hair items in very hot water or simply throw them away.

Lice Egg Treatment

Getting Rid of Lice Eggs

1. Comb hair regularly throughout the day, until all eggs are removed.

2. Remove eggs with your hand. Whilst this is time consuming, it is extremely effective.

If eggs are not removed, they will become lice in 5-7 days and their life cycle will begin again - staying alive by sucking blood.

PREVENTINg LICE

Education. Learn about lice and hot to treat an infection.

Avoid physical contact with people who have not finished their lice treatment.

Tell your children not to use others' combs, helmets, hair brushes, caps, hats, towels or anything which can be used on the head and hair.

Check towels, beds and blankets regularly. Listen to your children when they say, “My head

itches.”

SOME FACTS…

Lice can affect anyone and everyone. Lice equally infest both washed and unwashed

hair. A lice infection is not a sign of poor hygiene hygiene – lice like clean heads.

Lice move by crawling and cannot fly. Lice do not appear because you are sad. Your child will not get infected with lice from any

pets, as lice do not live on animals.

Bibliography

Normas para el tratamiento de la pediculosis - Ministerio de Salud Atlas de dermatología:

- Dermatosis Tropicales Nº 3 Infecciones Parasíticas

- Dermatosis Pediátricas

- Las afecciones del cabello y del cuero cabelludo - Schering Cia. Ltda.

• Atlas A., Parasitología Clínica, editorial Mediterráneo• http://www.associatedcontent.com• Serie clínica

– Parasitología al día, FLAP (Federación Latinoamericana de Parasitología)

– Boletín de Parasitología

SAY GOODBYE TO LICE!!!SAY GOODBYE TO LICE!!!