Useful facts about head lice

It seems there are a million myths surrounding head lice. People often don’t look for the real truths and facts until they have a real infestation in their home. If you are a parent and have a problem with these bloodsucking critters, now is the time to educate yourself properly about these parasites, so that you can treat the situation properly. Having the real truths and facts about the bugs causing your dilemma can help you get rid of the problem once and for all.

Get the basic facts

• They are small parasitic insects that feed on human blood that they extract from the scalp.
• They connect with humans for food and warmth.
• An adult insect can lay many eggs. The eggs attach themselves to the hair strands using a substance called chitin. This substance makes the eggs very difficult to remove from the hair strands.
• An adult insect will have a half-life of approximately 30 days, as long as it remains in contact with the host.
• When separated from the host, a louse has a lifespan of only 72 hours.
• An adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed and will be a dark tan/brown color.
• Nits, insect eggs, are much smaller and can be felt between your fingertips.

The myth about the transmission of lice

Many people think that parasites can fly or jump to and from hosts, but the truth is that a louse does not have the ability to do any of these activities. Instead, they move through direct or indirect contact. For example, you can catch the bugs by rubbing your head or sharing a hat with someone who already has an infestation.

A louse has six legacies. Protruding from each leg is a claw that allows it to grip hair very well, allowing it to move quickly both forwards and backwards through the hair and scalp. A louse doesn’t have wings, so it certainly can’t fly! You might be surprised by some of the myths, but it’s important that you only pay attention to the real facts!

The Most Important Facts: Effective Treatments

All of this information and data is great, but the most important information you will be interested in is effective treatments.

Over-the-counter products often contain pesticides. Many are not suitable for use in pregnant women. If this worries you, you can use alternative home remedies.

Alternative remedies are just as effective and much more affordable than over-the-counter products. These remedies have been used by families for years and have helped many parents eradicate their infestation problems from their homes.

The most essential tool you need to combat any infestation is a nit comb. If you decide to go with a manual comb, be sure to buy a comb with metal teeth. Electronic combs are a bit more expensive, but some parents prefer them because they remove and kill parasites on contact, making the removal process much easier.

It is absolutely imperative that you treat your home, just as you treat your family. A louse can survive up to three days away from the host and has the ability to restart an infestation. It is imperative that you treat all furniture, bedding, and rugs to remove any remaining insects waiting to reboot a community on a new, unsuspecting guest.