Getting a call from school about your child is usually a bit scary. I got a call like that one day. The school health clerk told me that my first-year son had head lice. I was really nervous and embarrassed at that time. "Oh, my child has head lice?" I couldn't even imagine. This has probably happened to you too. Lice are not a disease-carrying animal, but none of us like them because of the itching and discomfort they cause. Also, the fear of being labeled as a "dirty family" by society, along with the fear of being labeled as such, is a psychological stressor for many mothers. So let's talk about this openly today.
Who are these lice? How do they live?
Simply put, lice are tiny parasites that live on the human scalp and suck blood. They are about the size of a sesame seed and have six legs. They are a little hard to find. Lice lay eggs. We call these nits . The female lice lay these eggs close to the scalp on the hair shaft. These nits are even harder to find.
But here's the good news. Lice can't survive long outside a person's head, that is, without the warmth and food that is found on the head. They can't jump or fly.
Lice are only spread through direct head-to-head contact, which is especially common when children play with their heads together or sleep in the same bed.
A louse that falls from its head will die of dehydration within a day without food. Also, since they can survive submerged in water for about 6 hours, bathing or swimming will not kill them.
| Characteristic | Louse | Lekha (Nit/Egg) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | A moving insect, about the size of a sesame seed, gray or brown in color. | Very small, yellow/white, teardrop-shaped eggs. Firmly attached to the hair shaft. |
| Location | It spreads throughout the scalp, especially around the ears and behind the neck. | The hairs are attached to the hair shafts very close to the scalp (within an inch). |
| Removal | It can be removed with a special comb. | It does not come off easily when combed. It must be pulled out with two fingers. (Unlike hair) |
Okay, what do we do now? How do we treat it?
The first thing you need to do is calm down . This is not the end of the world, it's something that almost every child can grow up with. Put aside the shame and guilt. This is not something that happened because of your uncleanliness.
Next, check to see if there are any live lice on your child's head. Use a special fine-toothed lice comb, available at pharmacies, to do this. They can be easily identified by combing the hair over a white sheet of paper.
If there are live lice, the next step is treatment. There are specially formulated medicated shampoos for this. We medically call these pediculicides . Most of these are applied to dry hair, left on for about 10 minutes, and then rinsed out. These are very safe if you follow the instructions on the package exactly .
Does everyone in the family need to be tested?
Yes, absolutely! If one child in the house is confirmed to have lice, check the heads of everyone else in the family . Mom, Dad, other children, maybe even grandparents. Do this and treat everyone with lice at the same time . If you don't, there's a high chance that one person will infect another.
Also, it is very important to inform the child's closest friends and the school about this. It is not a matter of shame, it is a responsibility. Then they can also check their children.
What do you do with clothes and bedding?
Two days before treatment, items such as bed sheets, pillowcases, towels, clothes, and hats that the child has used should be thoroughly washed. It is best to wash them in hot water. This is because lice that have fallen from the head can remain on these items.
Toys and teddy bears don't need to be thoroughly cleaned or quarantined. But if you're in doubt, you can put some of them in the dryer for about 20 minutes . The heat will kill the lice.
Why do we need to treat twice?
This is something that many people miss, but it is very important. After the first shampoo, the live lice will die. However, some nits may remain untouched by the shampoo.
These remaining nits break down in 7-9 days, and lice come out again. So, you need to treat them a second time exactly 9-10 days after the first treatment . Then, the newly born lice will die before they can grow big enough to lay eggs. If you don't do this second treatment, the lice problem will start all over again.
What if lice are still there after using the shampoo from the pharmacy?
If you have followed the instructions exactly and treated your child twice, but there are still live lice on your child's head, do not use the same shampoo again. The next best thing to do is to see your family doctor . It is possible that the lice are resistant to the drugs available at pharmacies. The doctor will then prescribe a stronger, prescription medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Having lice on a child's head is not a sign of uncleanliness or poor hygiene . Don't be ashamed or worried about it.
- If lice are confirmed, check the heads of all family members and, if necessary, treat everyone at the same time.
- When using medicated shampoos (pediculicides) available from pharmacies, follow the instructions on the package exactly.
- A second treatment is mandatory 9-10 days after the first treatment to kill any lice that may have emerged from the remaining nits.
- Wash bedding, pillowcases, and towels used in the 2 days before treatment in hot water and dry thoroughly.
- If you still have live lice after two correct treatments, see your doctor immediately.
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