Let's see how I tell you without being scared: even if I have finished the course, your children can suffer from a lice infestation…. yes, those tiny parasites that have been nagging you for the last few months, and to whom you wish you had given the final goodbye. The reasons? You may not have correctly eliminated nymphs and nits, or that when you continue to be in contact with other little ones in swimming pools, summer workshops, etc. It is easy for these little insects to go from head to head.
Because lice do not jump or fly, but when they have the opportunity to move through one hair to reach another, they run a lot. Although it is not the first time that we have talked about its elimination, in this post we try to provide useful clues, and allow your efforts to be effective. But if you allow me, I go back to lice and summer (or summer and lice), let's bear in mind that with high temperatures, living and reproduction conditions improve, because the warmth that the human body emanates (exclusive habitat) those degrees of more are added that the summer 'gives us'; as if that were not enough, they love the humid heat: and there we have the little ones with their little heads almost always wet, the proliferation is sung.
It is popularly said that some children are more predisposed than others to be invaded by these tiny beings, I do not know, but if you have never had them at home I tell you two things: first of all, congratulations (and that everything continues as it is) secondly, don't trust yourself! Because as has happened to me, you can spend 10 years without knowing anything about them, and suddenly! not being able to get rid of their eggs, nymphs and adult specimens, whatever you do. It is so. I don't have to tell you what they are like: if you check the hair and see small elongated white eggs, your child has nits (the eggs), if they are round black balls, they are nymphs (the babies), and if you see walking (with its 6 legs) at ease, further explanations are unnecessary.
Lice, once they mature, are not always easy to detect no matter how hard you look, but that's what nits are for when you suspect (and we'll explain a little more about this below); depending on the characteristics of the hair, they can hide very well. That if: there is an unmistakable sign: scratching. When you see a child scratching the occipital area or the sides above the ears, and also scratches with some desperation, there are almost certainly lice involved.
Lice and their life cycle.
And now! what do I do? you wonder the first time lice enter the house (children are 3 or 9 years old), Well, eradicate them, logically, and repeat the treatment and revisions until not a nit remains. Because look: out of every 10 nits, it is estimated that 9 females will come out, almost nothing! And each one is capable of laying 10 eggs a day, uf! I'm even scared to do the math. 60 percent of those eggs become adults if you do not remedy it, they are also placed at a maximum of 2 millimeters from the scalp, so when you check, do it thoroughly.
Approximately 7 days after being laid the egg hatches and oh surprise! A nymph is born from it that from the first moment sucks blood from the scalp that houses it, and bothers in a way inversely proportional to its very small size. About three changes and two weeks later, the louse is mature and reproduces because it has become sexually differentiated. If you've let them get to that point, apply yourself and be very patient. In addition, the life cycle is long (35 days), and joins the cycles of the new ones that are being born.
Get rid of lice!
Chemical pediculicides start to be ineffective as lice have become resistant; there are other more modern products that are derived from silicone and act by killing by dehydration, they are more expensive although it is worth the investment. Of course, be very careful because there is nothing (except removal by dragging) that kills a nit, they are also stuck to the hair and sometimes it takes a bit to get them out of their place.
Yes, but what do I do?
- You use product: apply it well following the manufacturer's instructions and covering the area well, wait the recommended time and proceed to thoroughly brush the nit all over the hair (strand by strand and repeating). the eggs that were just laid will hatch.
- You do not use product: pass the nit daily (after applying conditioner through the hair) until not even a nymph appears, and a couple of days more. Beware of reinfestations.
Buy good nits, ask at your pharmacy.
Avoiding contagion.
This is the hardest part, because you are not going to tell the little ones to stop putting their heads together, it would be absurd. What you can (and should) do is prevent them from sharing towels and bathing caps, diving goggles, headbands, hair pins, rubber bands, combs, etc.. Surely in the handkerchief your daughter wears there are no lice or eggs because they prefer hair (put to choose 🙂), but hey, just in case. Some say that if the brush is submerged in water for 3 hours, the possible lice that may have drowned, other sources assure that the lice do not drown even if they spend days in the water, I no longer know what to think, I have thrown a couple of brushes just out of fear, although I usually wash them very well, disinfect them and use them only for a child.
It is also a good idea that girls wear their hair very well stretched and collected (braids, ponytails, bows,) so it will be difficult for a louse to climb them, and that those who carry them go to other houses. If your children play with other children every day and you have suspicions, because you use repellants and comb at least once a week.
You can use repellent lotions with pediculicides, or resort to more natural remedies such as diluted and powdered tea tree oil, or emulsified with chambú; usually works, but make sure they don't swallow it.
Water and lice.
No, they do not swim ... if they go from head to head it is because the children play very together when leaving the pool. They are so well attached to children's hair (and usually to adults) that they do not come down from there even with the chlorine in the pool, so do not try to spend 3 hours throwing, swimming and diving, you will get tired and you will not be able to against them.
I've saved for last an 'old-fashioned trick' that works to end the removal earlier: if you soak your hair in warm olive oil and roll it up with kitchen wrap waiting an hour, When the nit passes, the eggs will also leave, although that does not mean that you should not repeat a few more days. And I remind you that the best remedy is your patience and perseverance, that fatigue and discouragement do not overcome you.
Images - Gilles Sanmartin, Deutsche pediculosis
Life cycle image - Remove lice