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Managing Head Lice
Head lice are more than a nuisance than a health hazard. They do not carry disease and they do not live on small animals and pets. This is a misconception about head lice. The methods of getting rid of the lice could be more of a health risk than the lice. When a child gets head lice, they will be banned from school as long as there are still nits in the hair.
There are four important ways to controlling head lice.
Use an effective treatment for head lice. This may mean you will buy a product or shampoo from your local drugstore or use an effective and proven home remedy.
Remove nits with a special nit comb or a pet flea brush.
Thoroughly clean the household environment by vacuuming, washing in hot water, drying in hot dryer or freezing objects that might be infected.
Check the head daily and remove all nits until the infestation is entirely gone. Follow up with weekly head checks for any signs of infestation.
You may choose to use an insecticidal shampoo to remove head lice but they will need to be properly used or they could cause other problems. Most over-the-counter shampoos contain pyrethrin or permethrin and some contain lindane.
Lindane is now only available by prescription because of the effects it has on the people treated, and the ones treating for lice. There is also a danger to the environment and is considered to be a toxic substance. Pyrethrin or permethrin are safer, more effective and have fewer side effects than lindane.
When using a shampoo for head lice, try to limit exposure of the shampoo to only the head and scalp. Do not use this shampoo in the shower as it could cause harm to other parts of the body. If there are open cuts, scratches, or inflammation, do not apply these shampoos. Do not use on children under the age of two.
Pyrethrin and permethrin are effective ingredients but do not always kill all the nymphs and adults, or all the eggs. Most lice will die within 30 minutes after treatment. If you need a follow-up treatment, use the opposite of what you used the first time in the projected interval. You do not want to use these products like flea and tick shampoo, kerosene or other insecticides. These are dangerous and dangerous to the health and the environment.
Combing with a special nit comb needs to be done to pull the nits off the hair shafts and remove dead lice. If you do not remove the nits, there is a strong chance of a second infestation. If you want to avoid these insecticide shampoos, try a good soap shampoo with coconut or olive oil listed in the ingredients.
Clean the environment daily! This is so important to controlling head lice. Wash clothing in hot water, vacuum daily, and use a disinfectant spray. If the article cannot be washed have it dry cleaned. You may also suffocate or freeze lice by placing infected articles in a plastic bag and placing them in the freezer.
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Thu 28 Aug 2008 12:09:33 CST | |