One of the worst nightmares for parents is their kids having head lice. Though it is not deadly, children acquiring lice may lead to infestation among other members of the household as well as tedious measures to get rid of it. Here are some ways to prevent and treat head lice.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), head lice usually infest a person's head or neck. These parasites attach their eggs to the "base of the hair shaft," where they propagate and grow into adult head lice. Head lice infestation, or pediculosis, is most common among preschool and elementary students as well as their caretakers and members of their household. The lice are usually transmitted by direct contact from one head or hair to another.
CDC notes that the most common areas where children acquire head lice is at school, home or other areas where physical activities are involved such as playgrounds, camps, slumber parties, etc. Transmission may also occur by wearing clothes of a lice-infested person or using his/her personal items. Laying your head on the same bed, couch, pillow or carpet that a lice-infested individual previously used may also result to transmission.
In the U.S., approximately six to 12 million children between three to 11 years old are infested with head lice.
However, for parents who are scared of head lice, fret not. Here are some ways to prevent and treat these parasites.
According to FOX News, early preventive measures prove useful when it comes to head lice. Always check your child's hair for lice after taking a bath. Also, watch out for cases of head lice in your child's school.
When there is already an infestation, treat it immediately. There are available products in the market that can get rid of head lice and their eggs. Using a nit comb, comb your child's hair for two weeks to ensure that everything is completely gone. For busy moms or those who do not want to endure the hassle, there are professionals who can do the job for you.
You must also clean the house by vacuuming furniture and putting pillows, blankets, stuffed toys in extreme heat. The CDC also suggests using hot water in washing clothes, bed linens and other items, which the infested person used two days before the treatment.
However, CDC notes that it is not useful to over clean your house. Fumigation and spraying pesticides will not help get rid of the lice.
Lastly, FOX News encourages parents to not be ashamed if their children have head lice. Instead, "spread the word" to other parents to prevent further infestation in the community.
