Distorted ideas about head lice or head lice can lead to ineffective treatment and simply to torment (not everyone likes the smell of kerosene and vinegar). We understand what myths this ancient disease has acquired.
Pediculosis appears only in humans with poor hygiene
In fact, lice often appear in people who wash their hair regularly. They can survive for a long time in water whose temperature is below 60 degrees. Clean hair and clean skin do not repel them. Washing lice and nits from the head in the usual way will not work either.
Head lice are extremely easy to pass from one person to another
Lice, unlike fleas, do not fly, do not jump, they crawl only tens of centimeters. They are transmitted when people's heads come close and through personal items. That is, you can interrupt their spread by asking people to keep their distance and stop sharing things.
Lice (pediculosis)
Head lice are grayish insects — white color, size 2-4 mm. As a rule, they live on the scalp, but can also affect the eyebrows and eyelashes.
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You can pick up lice from pets
< span>This is wrong. Of the thousands of species of lice, only three live on a person (head, clothes, pubic). These types of lice do not parasitize animals. Infection with pediculosis occurs from person to person.
Itching of the scalp is a definite sign of head lice
Of course, itching is an important symptom. However, it is not enough for a diagnosis. In addition, pediculosis can occur without itching: if the number of lice is small or the person does not have an allergic reaction to their saliva. The surest sign of pediculosis is the detection of lice and nits in the hair.
Lice — carriers of diseases
This is partially true: many people know that lice can carry typhus pathogens. However, now this disease is practically not found in Russia, the risk of infection is extremely low. They do not transmit other infections. A problem that may persist for some time after head lice is itching of the scalp. Suppuration may develop at the site of scratching.
Kerosene is a good remedy for lice
How good is kerosene (especially when compared with registered drugs for the treatment of head lice) is unknown for a simple reason: it has not been clinically studied. Even if it works well for lice, the side effects and costs of its use are too great. It is toxic, scalp irritant, flammable.
Vinegar will help get rid of lice and nits
It is believed that vinegar can loosen the attachment of nits to the hair. It is considered dangerous for lice and is used as a home remedy. However, a study published in 2004 found that this was not an effective practice. It was found to be less effective than petroleum jelly, which killed 6% of lice eggs. Similarly, mayonnaise and vegetable oil have an extremely weak therapeutic effect.
The main hotbed of pediculosis is the school
Most often, pediculosis really affects children of school age. However, do they get it at school? In about 60% of those with lice, doctors found relatives with lice at home. In addition, the school does not always have the opportunity to bring the heads of students together. Experts believe that the school is not the main breeding ground for pediculosis. They attribute the surge in incidence during the beginning of the school year to the fact that before that, children are “in the wild” for a long time.
Pubic lice
The main symptom of phthiriasis (pubic lice infestation) is itching. It can intensify at night.
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Lice breed in carpets, bedding and furniture
Lice cannot survive without food for more than two days . An insect that has fallen to the floor is unlikely to be able to reach the head again, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. They recommend simply vacuuming the floor, and washing bed and underwear in the machine at a temperature above 60 degrees.