Head Lice Containment
by Abigail Franks
Don't let the idea of
head lice paralyze you. Although they're very prevalent, and
most kids will get them at some point in their lives, lice
aren't caused by being dirty. Head lice are very easily
spread among the population. Although they don't jump or fly,
any direct contact can result in yet another person being
infected.
That contact may be a hat or scarf from an infected person. It may
even be a simple hug hello where your head touches another. The
point to remember is that head lice are a nuisance and not a health
risk.
Although a blood sucking parasite, lice do not carry disease like
mosquitoes. The biggest problem caused by a lice infestation is the
embarrassment of having them in the first place. But once someone
in your family does have lice, you need to take direct and decisive
action to limit the potential spread of the infestation.
Consider these actions as being a pre-emptive strike against the
lice invaders. The first order of business must be to limit the
potential for others in the family to become infected. This is done
by...
1. Limit the area of Outbreak. Try to limit the person with the
head lice from general areas of the house. They could sit on the
sofa, eggs may then fall off only to be picked up later by another
family member. The result is 2 people with lice instead of one.
Keep them limited until you get a quality medicated shampoo and
treat the head lice problem.
2. Limit the areas where other children might come in contact with
lice or their eggs. This means that the bedroom of the person with
lice is off limits until it's treated. An inadvertent moment where
someone may lay down on the bed opens the opportunity for another
infection. Keep the non lice people out of the others room if only
as a precaution.
Remember that lice neither fly nor jump huge distances. A louse can
only survive a few days at most without food. This means that left
on their own, lice will die off naturally. The problem however is
that the nits or eggs may incubate for a week or more before
hatching. The point here is not to worry about being attacked by
head lice but be cautious.
3. Remove all combs, brushes, hair care products that come in
direct contact with hair. This means hair bands, bobby pins, clips
etc. All should be put into a plastic bag and sealed until they can
be sterilized. Be certain to also wash the counter where the brush
might have laid. You can't be to careful in dealing with a head
lice infestation.
4. Remove all jackets, scarves and other outer wear that may have
been used. If hung in a common closet, remove all jackets for a
good washing. Again, you can't be to careful.
Although many people will consider some of these tactics overkill,
the fact is that a single female louse can lay up to 200 eggs in a
month, This means there is the potential of hundreds of thousands
of eggs and adults infecting your home within as little as 2-3
months.
Don't risk it. Contain the problem then work to treat each area in
a methodical way and soon you home will be once again lice
free.
Abigail Franks has researched lice and head
louse and found valuable information that could help you. On this
site find information about head
louse comonly known as head lice
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