A hematophagous parasite, that is to say, which feeds on our blood. The hair louse differs from the body louse (like the crab lice, for example). It does not transmit any disease, but it can cause intense itching. It does not survive more than 2 to 3 days when it is no longer on ahead.

That’s it; the lice have invaded the children’s hair. Whether it’s the first time you’ve come face to face with these critters or the scenario repeats every year, find out what you might not know about these puzzling specialists.

Know Everything About Lice

Professionals like Lice Treatment boston for example play a key role in informing parents to prevent lice epidemics in childcare facilities. But to be well informed, you still need to know about pediculosis.

How Does Pediculosis Develop?

Pediculosis is a parasitosis caused by head lice. These parasites, measuring 1 to 3 mm, feed on blood taken from the scalp of humans, adults, and children alike. Each female lays about 4 eggs daily for 1.5 months, following a well-defined pattern: “Laying is done instinctively behind the ears and the back of children’s neck. These are the hottest places that allow the nits to evolve in an environment of 30 to 32°C, which is necessary for their hatching 6 to 9 days later. Lice are transmitted from head-to-head or by indirect contamination via smooth fabrics, hats, and scarves, in which they can survive for up to 48 hours.

Can Young Children Be Affected By Pediculosis?

The big carriers of lice are children, from 2 or 3 years old up to about 12 years old. The peak occurs around the age of 7 when children gain independence. Little girls, especially those with long hair, are the first to be affected. If they are not in the line of fire, the children welcomed in the community are therefore not spared from pediculosis—the first risk: is an intra-family transmission. Keep a particularly close eye on the little ones from siblings!

What Treatments Can We Recommend To Parents?

Once the lice treated by LiceDoctors for instance have been identified, comes the key moment of informing the parents. A phase is more crucial as not all the treatments available on the market are suitable for little ones. For the treatment to be effective and safe, “it is essential to choose a product that kills lice and nits simultaneously, in one application. In young children, the product must also have an enveloping action, i.e., it suffocates the lice by mechanical action.

Conversely, products with a neurotoxic action (which paralyzes lice) and products containing essential oils are strictly discouraged because they are potentially dangerous at high doses (risk of allergies, convulsions, etc.). Another reflex to advise parents: favor a product (coating, therefore) in the local application and not in spray, which can be inhaled and in extenso, at the origin of lung problems.