Is this louse in your house?
|
Get the 'Facts of Lice'
What are head lice? What do they look like? How many eggs (nits) do they lay a day? How do you get rid of them? Information on treating head lice can be hard to find. We have the basics and links to solid resources so you can learn more.
What are head lice?
- Head lice are tiny wingless parasitic insects that feed on human blood and live on the scalp.
- An adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed.
- Head lice require regular feedings and will typically die within 24-48 hours away from a human host.
- Head lice have 3 stages of development: Nit, Nymph and Adult Louse.
- The female louse can lay about 7-10 eggs (nits) per day and lives up to 30 days on the human head.
What are nits?
- Nits are the eggs of the louse and are generally easier to find on the head than live head lice, depending on the infestation level.
- Nits are very tiny, about the size of a strawberry seed.
- They are oval shaped and can be off-white, gray or brown.
- Nits are laid close to the scalp, but can appear anywhere on the hair shaft.
- Once a nit is laid, it takes from 7-10 days for the nymph (baby louse) to hatch.
- Once a louse is born, it is called a nymph until it reaches maturity about 9-12 days later at which time it can start to reproduce.
How do you get head lice?
- Anyone can get head lice.
- Head lice are typically transferred from head to head contact with an infested person.
- Although a less common form of transfer, lice can also transfer when personal items like hats, brushes and scarves are shared with an infested person.
- Animals, like dogs and cats do not carry head lice.
What are the symptoms of head lice?
- The main symptom of head lice is an itchy scalp, however, there are many people who have head lice who do not notice any abnormal itching.
- The itching is caused by inflammation caused by the lice sucking blood from the scalp.
- Typically, a person with lice will not start itching until 4-6 weeks after an infestation begins.
- In more severe cases there may be redness at the nape of the neck from bites.
How common are head lice?
- According the Centers for Disease Control, there are approximately 6-12 million cases of head lice per year in children ages 3-11 in the United States resulting in 12-24 million missed days of work and school.
How do you get rid of head lice?
- The key to successfully treating head lice is to kill or remove ALL live lice and nit eggs and to take measures to prevent re-infestation.
How to I clean my home so as to decrease the chance of re-infestation?
- Head lice that have fallen off their human host typically do not survive longer than 24-48 hours, so herculean cleaning efforts are not necessary.
- However, it's a good policy to vacuum the house thoroughly and launder sheets, towels and hats used by the infected person in hot water (130 degrees F), then dry on high heat for 20 minutes.
- Stuffed animals can be placed in plastic bags for two weeks or thrown in the dryer for 30 minutes on high heat.
- Combs and brushes that are not sensitive to moisture can be soaked in rubbing alcohol for one hour.
- Other brushes may be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks.
Helpful links and news
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention — Information about lice, treatments, and educational materials
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Guidance on treating head lice
- Headlice.org — Non-profit National Pediculosis Association®
- "Pesticides: 5 Ways to Reduce Children's Exposure," U.S. News and World Report — "... do you really want a neurotoxin on your child's scalp? Non-toxic alternatives include combing and nit-picking."
- Study proves Terminator lice comb is superior — "There is no doubt that there was a noticeable difference in the comb used." (.pdf download)
- "Tired of Nit-Picking? Lice Are Peskier Than Ever," Wall Street Journal — "Head lice, a scourge of schoolchildren and their parents, may be even harder to get rid of than previously thought, according to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics."
- "Does Head Lice Mean No School?," Wall Street Journal — "The [American Academy of Pediatrics] report said that some of the common treatments for killing head lice, including prescription medications and over-the-counter products, may no longer be effective because the pests in some areas have built up a resistance to them."
- "One Louse, Ick. Two Lice, Call for Help!," New York Times — Story about a Los Angeles lice removal service.
Learn more about Lice Busters St. Louis LLC:
|
