Lice and nits are the bane of many a parent. Lice and nits are easy to infect - large groups of children at school, nursery or kindergarten carry the risk of rapid transmission. How do you deal with them? What should you do if you notice that your child has lice?
When there is one child in a group of children who has lice - the risk of the insects being "transmitted" to other children is high. Lice are external parasites whose host is a human being. Statistics indicate that lice is not a problem of third world countries, as many of us think, but a problem of highly developed countries, where there is an increase in cases. Lice are caused by arthropods, among which are:
- head louse - the most common in Poland,
- pubic louse,
- clothing louse.
The characteristic symptom of the appearance of lice is persistent itching, the appearance of blisters and lumps from which fluid oozes. Adult individuals of head lice reach a size of up to 3 mm. Adult females lay eggs from which, after fertilisation, nymphs hatch after 6-8 days. It is a good idea to check your child's head condition prophylactically. One way to do this is to throw a white towel over their shoulders and comb their hair in batches with a fine-toothed comb. "Searching" for parasites can also be done by combing the hair strand by strand over the sink or bathtub. If you notice lice, nits or nymphs in your child, do not delay treatment as parasites spread rapidly. It is worth making a quick trip to the pharmacy to buy an anti-lice treatment - there are a number of preparations available on the market: liquids, foams and sprays. Treatment against lice should be carried out in accordance with the package leaflet. Remember that it is also a good idea to replace combs and brushes in the house, throw away clips and rubber bands and wash bedding at a high temperature to avoid another self-infestation.