Some class mates come with new enthusiasm, some good stationery, some yummy lunch boxes and some with that dreaded head lice. These most likely aren't the sort of friends you want your children to hang out with. After all, who wants to spend evenings rummaging through the little one's head scouting for creepy crawlies But kids will be kids and if they do come home with their new six-legged chums, here's how you can put an end to that friendship.

WHAT ARE HEAD LICE

Head lice are small wing less insects that live on the scalp feeding from the blood. Baby lice are extremely small, but mature within 10 days and then they begin to reproduce.Females lay several eggs a day and adult lice can live for as long as a whole month.

HOW THEY SPREAD

Lice are spread through head-to-head contact. So sleepovers, after school activities, playing with friends and visiting family are the most common places for children to pick up head lice and pass them on. Be sure to use clean pillow cases when on the train or when staying at a hotel.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE THEM

The best known symptom is itching. However, only 30 per cent are aware of an infestation. Regular checks with a head lice detection comb helps. Head lice can be uncomfortable, can prevent sleep and concentration and can cause bullying. It's best for parents to check for head lice using a comb made for the purpose, ideally white so that the lice can be seen and with teeth no more than 0.3 mm apart.

Research has shown that detection combing is nearly four times more effective than visual inspection for finding live lice. Lice are around 2-4 mm long but immature lice are even smaller, living close to the scalp. Nits are dead or empty shells, which can be removed by hand or by combing. The itching isn't caused by lice biting the scalp, but by an allergy to the lice. Not everyone is allergic to head lice so you or your child may not notice an infestation. They may complain, though, of things moving around on or tickling their heads.In some cases a rash may appear on the back of the neck. This is caused by a reaction to lice droppings.Sometimes, tiny spots of black (lice faeces) can be seen on pillows and collars.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Use an anti-lice shampoo, which you can buy from a chemist. It protects children from parasites by breaking the life cycle and killing lice before an infestation can be established.The shampoo should be used as part of the regular cleaning regime, much the same as cleaning teeth or using shampoo. The key ingredient used in non-pesticide treatments are dimeticone, octanediol and isopropyl myristate. Natural remedies such as tea tree oil and mayonnaise are effective in eradicating head lice. Also, rub raw onion juice on your child's scalp.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU HAVE THEM

Firstly, don't worry, there is nothing to panic or be ashamed about. Research suggests that lice have become resistant to pesticide treatments. So pick a nonpesticide treatment which will work by smothering the lice and or by stripping them of their waxy coating, causing them to dehydrate. It will block the openings to their air tubes, disrupting their ability to manage water. These physical modes of action mean there is theoretically no chance for the head lice to build up a resistance. Try a treatment containing dimeticone or octanediol.

WHY CHILDREN ARE MORE PRONE

Children aged 4-11 are most at risk as they are in close contact with each other but no one is immune. And does the whole family need to be treated Only if live lice are found on other members of the family. There is no need to treat `just in case'.

UNTREATED NITS

Nits are the hatched or dead eggs. They remain on the hair as long as the hair is on the head and having them on your hair will make no difference to the hair or you.

However, leaving head lice untreated can lead to a long term untreated infection that has similar symptoms to low-grade flu and can make your child irritable and may result in a secondary bacterial infection.

DO NITS PREFER CLEAN HAIR

Having head lice has nothing to do with personal hygiene.Head lice can live on all types of hair and they have no preference between clean and dirty hair.


Source: Times of India

BDST: 1659 HRS, SEP- 13, 2015
Edited by:  Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor