Prevent and deal with when head lice are raging

Do you see your child scratching his head violently, showing his hair out of his head? At this point, you should apply quick methods to eliminate fire to avoid spreading it to others.

Head lice are small, six-legged insects that attach to the scalp and neck and suck on human blood. They are about the size of a sesame seed, so many people do not notice. In addition, nits are often found on the hair and difficult to see. Head lice infection is one of the most common diseases that makes children itchy and uncomfortable. So how to identify lice and how to treat and prevent lice? aFamilyToday Health will help you with answers.

Who will get lice?

Lice are more common in kindergarten or primary school children. Children at this age often play, sleep together at school, so they have a lot of hair exposure and infection. In addition, adults living in the same house are also at risk of getting lice.

How to recognize lice?

Although the lice and nits are quite small, they are still visible to the naked eye. They are usually found in the hair on the back of the neck or behind the ears. Nits are white, brown or dark gray, round or oval in shape, and are attached to the hair near the scalp.

How are lice spread?

Head lice are spread through direct contact of the scalp and are likely to persist for a short period on clothing or personal items. Therefore, if family members share a comb, this will be the act of allowing lice to find a new host. However, this parasitic insect cannot jump or fly from person to person.

Signs of lice infection

When lice or nits appear in the hair, this is a sign of a lice infection. However, if only a few eggs are present in the child's hair, the lice problem is not necessarily a problem. In many children, lice do not cause any discomfort. Another common symptom of lice infection is an itchy scalp. This can start weeks or even months after the lice have implanted in the baby's hair.

Allergies caused by lice

If the itch is severe, the lice may bite and lead to an allergic reaction in the child. Scratching too much will cause the baby's scalp to scratch, creating sores or crusting. Although this condition is not common, parents should also pay attention because wounds can become infected. Take your baby to the hospital to see if his scalp becomes red, swollen and painful. These could be signs of a skin infection.

Control lice infections at home

Although lice do not last long when they are not on human skin, the best way to prevent them is to clean the sheets and the surrounding area every 48 hours for those who are being treated for lice. Clothes worn for 2 days should also be washed in hot water. If your baby has a habit of hugging teddy bears to fall asleep, just heating them for 30 minutes will help kill lice that are hiding.

What to do when you suspect that your child has lice?

Lice will not go away on their own. If you suspect that your child has lice, here are some tips to follow:

Check the scalp of all family members for head lice infection.

When it is determined that your child has lice, notify the teacher at the school to check on the condition of other children to take measures to prevent the spread of lice.

If a family member has lice, get treated at the same time as your child.

Home remedies

Some parents believe that mayonnaise, white vinegar or tea tree oil are effective natural remedies for lice control. In particular, mayonnaise is used to help parents easily remove lice from the scalp and hair of your child. Vinegar is used to dissolve the glue secreted by nits to adhere to hair. However, no matter which method you use, talk to your doctor before doing so so that your scalp does not get worse. In addition, you can kill head lice in the following ways:

1. Comb your hair with a thick brush

Combing hair with a thick comb is one of the most common methods of getting rid of head lice. This comb has small, snug teeth that are good for pulling lice or eggs out of the hair. In ancient times, the ancient Egyptians knew how to use this remedy for head lice treatment. However, the drawback of thick combs is that it takes time and patience to remove all nits from the hair. To use the comb effectively, you should brush your hair after your baby has washed his hair.

2. Take lice killers

Currently, on the market there are commercial lice killers. You can easily find them at pharmacies. They are made from chamomile extracts or similar ingredients. You should follow the instructions on the product packaging for more effective treatment of lice.

In case of severe lice such as itching, swelling, scalp pain or have been using other lice treatments for a while, take your baby to the dermatology clinic to be diagnosed and consulted by a doctor. more rational.

Should children be absent from school to treat lice?

According to experts, do not keep your baby at home if your baby has lice. You can still go to class normally, but avoid scalp contact with classmates. After the treatment, the nits may remain in your baby's hair until you help remove them.

Can I protect my baby from lice?

If a child is a child, there are few ways to prevent lice attacks. Your child does not fully understand what you are telling them about how to prevent lice from spreading. Babies still hold their heads or let their hair come in close contact each time they play, thereby facilitating the spread of lice. Ideally, you should regularly check your baby's hair and scalp for early detection of the condition of your baby's lice. Treat early to avoid the insect from attacking other family members.