Where do lice come from and how to fight them? - briefly
Lice are transmitted mainly by direct head‑to‑head contact or by sharing personal items such as combs, hats, and bedding. Effective treatment combines a medicated shampoo or lotion with thorough combing of wet hair and washing of clothing and linens at high temperature.
Where do lice come from and how to fight them? - in detail
Lice infestations originate from direct contact with an infested person or through shared personal items such as combs, hats, bedding, and clothing. The insects cannot survive long away from a host; adult head lice die within 24‑48 hours without blood meals, while nits (eggs) require a warm, humid environment on the scalp to hatch. Transmission occurs most frequently among children in close‑quarter settings (schools, camps) where head‑to‑head contact is common, but adults can acquire lice from contaminated accessories or by caring for an affected child.
Effective eradication combines chemical, mechanical, and environmental strategies:
- Pediculicide shampoos or lotions containing 1 % permethrin, 0.5 % pyrethrin, or dimethicone. Apply according to product instructions, repeat after 7–10 days to kill newly hatched nits.
- Manual removal with a fine‑toothed nit comb on wet, conditioned hair. Comb from scalp outward in sections, rinsing the comb after each pass. Repeat every 2–3 days for two weeks.
- Heat treatment using a hair dryer on a high setting for a few minutes per section or a specialized lice‑removing device that delivers controlled heat to immobilize lice and dissolve nits.
- Environmental decontamination: wash clothing, bedding, and towels in hot water (≥ 60 °C) and tumble‑dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Items that cannot be laundered should be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks.
- Preventive measures: discourage sharing of hats, hair accessories, and personal grooming tools; conduct regular head checks in group settings; educate caregivers about early detection.
Monitoring after treatment is essential. Examine the scalp daily for at least ten days; any remaining live lice require immediate retreatment. Persistent infestations may indicate resistance to a particular pediculicide, in which case an alternative active ingredient or a non‑chemical approach should be employed.