Head Lice - Treatment Home Remedies

Head lice are tiny wingless parasitic insects that live and multiply on people's heads. They are 1-2 mm long and grayish brown in color. They are hematophagous as they provide for themselves by biting people's scalps. These diminutive insects are a irritant not a health risk. Nonetheless, there is some probability of bacterial illness caused by extreme scratching which makes the skin red and raw, and causes puffiness as well

Pediculosis is usual amongst children aged 3-10 years and their families, therefore someone coming in close head-to-head contact with an bug-ridden person can also catch lice. According to moderate estimates by the Toronto Public Health Association there are 6-12 million people worldwide who contract head lice each year. Furthermore, they can also be transmitted by means of distribution of hats, scarves, combs, hair ribbons, pillows, brushes, towels and helmets.

A research conducted by Kosta et al at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem indicates that boys are drastically less infested with lice and nits than girls (lice: 15.2 and 29.6%; nits: 21.5 and 35.4%, respectively). For those children that have long hair there is a considerably higher chance of getting nits and lice (68.9%) and medium-length (63.9%} hair with those children that have short hair.0%).

Treatments

One should completely comb the total scalp with a lice comb and the teeth of that comb must be examined carefully to notice any lice. For children with, foul, long and frizzed hair, an alternative method of analysis is to examine the hair at 2 cm intervals and look for lice near the scalp. Kosta et al have further found some additional interesting particulars about both the aforesaid techniques, "diagnosis of louse infestation using a louse comb is four times more effective than direct visual going over and twice as fast". However, special interest must be paid to the areas close to the ears and the nape of the neck with both methods. On the other hand, it is advantageous to use a magnifying glass to detect lice in the scalp or the teeth of the comb.

If women are inflicted with infestation during their pregnancy or breastfeeding they should without delay contact their doctor and apply the prescribed medicines and/or anti-lice shampoos, balms etc. In case of a seizure disorder or a skin infection one must refer to a physician for appropriate handling.

There are some other common head lice home remedies such as using vinegar, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, baby oil, cooking oil, tea tree oil etc. Conversely, such techniques are not recommended because their value has not been scientifically documented. The itching in head could be due to a number of reasons such as dandruff in which case all the above mentioned techniques would be unsuccessful to rid pruritus and scratching. Thus, it is highly recommended that those suspecting infestation see a Dermatologist to obtain a full scal examination.