Head Louse

Head louse is a type of louse which lives and feeds in the hair of humans. There are several different kinds of lice, but head louse can be by far the most irritating. Head louse is common among children because it can be so easily spread, usually by sharing hair brushes with a person infested with lice. The head louse does not carry any disease which makes it virtually harmless, though irritating, while other lice such as body lice can carry certain types of diseases.

How they spread

Head lice don't have legs that jump and can not fly so containing head lice can be quite easy providing you follow trusted methods. They spread through head-to-head contact with another person who has head lice, which is why people who are in contact regularly with others, such as children at school, are deemed a higher risk. Head Lice move from one recipient to another in a matter of seconds. As they can not fly they are able to crawl very quickly, some up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) per minute.

Signs of Head Lice:

One way to tell if someone has a head lice infestation is if they itch their head a lot, this may not be a head lice infection. It may be that they are suffering with dandruff, but it is one of the main symptoms of head lice infestation.

Another sign to look out for are dead or empty eggs stuck to hairs that are growing out, these will look like small bits of dandruff an can be anything from white to brown in color.

The final sign is louse droppings, these look like a fine black powder, which can normally be seen on pillows and sheets.

The life cycle of a head louse is about 6 weeks; this is from the egg being laid till the adult’s life ends. Below is a breakdown of this life cycle:

1) The eggs are laid and take 7 to 9 days incubation

2) The Nymph (new born head louse) goes through 3 stages before reaching adulthood

3) The adult, now called a head louse, lives for approximately thirty days, the female head louse can lay between 3 and 6 eggs a day during this time

Home Remedies and Treatment Tips of Head Louse:

1.Avoid from harmful chemicals.

2.Mix fresh lemon and coconut oil(equal amounts).Apply gently on your hair. leave at least 2 to 3 hrs.and wash your head.

3 . In 2 teaspoon of limejuice, add 2 teaspoon of garlic paste and apply it all over your scalp. Keep for 45 minutes and then wash.

4. Using vinegar i.e wash you hair. And also Using fresh parsley juice.

5. Applying a Mixture of 50% kerosene and 50% water to hair as a lotion. Leave at least 6 to 4 hrs.( home remedy for head louse)

7. Keep your head surroundings clean to remove head louse(lice).

8. Wash your hair with warm apple cider vinegar. Then cover your head.

9. Neem, olive oil, tea tree oil etc, which can be used for treating head louse.

10.person does not share anything from clothes, coats, hats, towels, and combs.

11.Regular washing of bed linen and brushes and combs in hot soapy water will kill any remaining lice.