Persistent Headlice Infestations

Today it is becoming more and more common for headlice treatments to fail. When this happens, the reoccurring infestation becomes evident within a few weeks after treatment. Persistent headlice infestation can go on for months, and in a few cases, even years. Not only is this an incredible amount of trouble, it can actually be emotionally traumatic for the person who has the headlice infestation, as well as others in the household.
Usually the reason behind a persistent headlice infestation is the direct environment the person is in. It may be that they are being re-infested through household items that were not treated, or someone who they are in close contact with has failed to treat their condition and is still spreading lice.

Another problem that is being seen frequently is that the common shampoo and cream treatments are no longer 100% effective in treating headlice. This is partly due to the fact that the lice are becoming immune to the insecticides in the treatments, so they are no longer killing lice the way they once did.

Persistent headlice infestation can be a big problem. For one thing you can only safely use the medicated treatments so often before they become a health hazard, in addition the emotional stress of having to continually treat all members in your household for headlice will take its toll quickly.

To best fight headlice infestations it is imperative that it be treated properly from the beginning. Treat the hair and carefully remove all the nits from the hair shaft with a specially designed comb.
Always vacuum the carpet and furniture in your home immediately after treatment, and you will also want to wash all bedding and clothes in hot water. Soak combs, brushes and other hair items in very hot water, or completely discard them and buy the items new.

Aside from these steps, you may want to let all people you, or your family has been in contact with, know that there was a headlice infestation and that they should check to ensure that they do not have them.
This will help to eliminate the possibility that the headlice will be passed back and forth between people who are frequently in each other’s company. If you have children in daycare or school, call and let them know that your child was exposed to headlice.

Another very important step is to retreat the hair after a week. This will help to rid the head of any newly hatched lice; in addition, keep checking at least every other day for a reoccurring infestation, even after the second treatment.

Also speak with your healthcare provider about what you can do to eliminate headlice.

My Child is Scratching His Head - Could it be Head Lice?

When you observe your child consistently scratching his head, it is a good idea to examine their hair for a head lice infestation. A persistent itching on the head is a common symptom of head lice.
The itching associated with head lice is usually caused by an allergic reaction to the louse bites, and as they are continually biting, it is nearly impossible to be rid of the itching without treating the infestation.
Some additional symptoms of a head lice infestation include,

•    People who are infested with head lice will frequently feel a tickle like feeling in the hair, as if something is moving around in the hair, and on the head.
•    The infested person may develop sores on their head as a result of constant scratching to relieve the itch.
•    Another problem that may be seen in an infested person is that the sores on their head become infected. This can become a serious health condition if left untreated.

Before head lice can be diagnosed, you must examine the head closely. Look for nits and lice near the scalp, as well as throughout the rest of the hair. Actually spotting an adult louse may be hard because these insects move very fast, and they also have a tendency to avoid light.
In the case that you are unable to confirm head lice by viewing an adult louse, you should then look for the nits close to the scalp. If nits are present, you can probably confirm a head lice infestation. If you discover nits that are more than a quarter inch from the scalp, it is likely that the infestation has been a problem for some time, and immediately treatment is essential.

There are times when it is difficult to see nits on the hair shaft, if this is the case and you are unable to be sure that there are nits on the hair, you should have your healthcare provider check for nits and head lice. They may have a much easier time confirming, or eliminating an infestation, as they can use a microscope to check for nits and head lice.
Once a head lice infestation has been diagnosed, it is important to treat the condition as soon as possible to avoid spreading lice to others. Ensure that you wash all clothing and replace hair accessories, and combs.

Home Remedy Treatments For Head Lice

Over the past several years there has been some speculation about the toxicity of “over the counter” and prescription head lice treatments. Some doctors believe that too much toxin makes it into the blood stream when using these types of treatments; this is especially true for children, and pregnant women. The level of toxins that could make it into the blood increases with repeated use, which may be necessary in the case of a re-infestation. Another drawback to these “over the counter” and prescription head lice treatments is that the lice are becoming resistant to the pesticides in the treatments. This often results in either the treatment not working at all, or a very quick re-infestation. As a result of the toxins in the treatments, and their increasing inability to kill lice, many people have turned to home remedies. While healthcare professionals have recommended some of these home remedies, others have been used for years as a treatment for head lice. Mayonnaise: Pediatricians often recommend this treatment as an alternative to commercial treatments. Saturate the hair with real mayonnaise, and cover the head with a shower cap. Let the mayonnaise sit in hair for at least eight hours and then wash out. After washing the hair, carefully run a nit comb through the hair to remove lice and nits. The treatment should be repeated every few days for about a week and a half. Listerine: Saturate hair with Listerine and place shower cap on head; leaving it place for at least 2 hours. After this, rinse hair and comb with metal nit removal comb. All lice should be dead at this point. Next you will need to saturate the hair with white vinegar, and again place the washed shower cap on the hair for 1 hour. After 1 hour, you can remove the shower cap to shampoo and condition hair. Again, comb hair with the nit removal comb. Coconut Shampoo & Tea Tree Oil: Use equal amounts of tea tree oil and shampoo. Lather through hair and then use a shower cap. Let the mixture set on the head for at least two hours before rinsing. Apply a coconut conditioner, and carefully comb hair with a metal nit removal comb. Use this treatment at least three times over a two-week period, making sure to comb through the hair each time. Wash all bedding, as well as coats and scarves, and soak combs, brushes, and other hair items in boiling water.

Rid Your House of Headlice to Prevent Reoccurring Infestation

Title: Rid Your House of Headlice to Prevent Reoccurring Infestation Word Count: 451 Summary: There are different ways to rid your house of headlice. Keywords: Headlice, lice, nits Article Body: Naturally when you discover that someone in your home has headlice, the first thing you want to do is begin treatment, but it is also important to pay attention to your house as well. When someone in the household becomes infested with headlice, it is not uncommon for the rest of the family to catch it too. Headlice is extremely contagious and when people live in close proximately, these tiny insects readily pass between the house’s inhabitants. For this reason it is extremely important that if one person in the house has headlice, that all family members be closely checked for infestation. There is a high likelihood that most if not all members of the household will have headlice. Even when all the people in the house are treated, the problem doesn’t really end there. You also have to de-louse the house itself, and all personal belongings. Treating a headlice infestation can be a tedious task, but very important if you don’t want to be dealing continually with the problem. The proper way to rid your home of headlice is to first, treat all those who have been infested, after treatment, have each person put on freshly laundered clothing. Buy a new comb to use after treatment; do not use a brush or comb that was being used before treatment. If you do not want to replace all your combs and brushes, it will be necessary to let them set in boiled water for at least an hour. This includes all hair accessories as well. If it is not possible to disinfect them with boiling water, place them in a plastic back, seal it and do not use the items again for at least 2 to 3 weeks. All bedding and clothing must be washed in hot water, and dried on a high heat setting. This will kill any lice that may be clinging to the clothing, or linen. Don’t’ forget about blankets and stuffed animals. Again, if the items cannot be washed, seal them in plastic bags for a few weeks. It will also be necessary to vacuum all carpets, and furniture, as well as mattresses. If you would like to take extra precautionary measures, you can buy insecticide designed specifically for headlice. Spray the furniture and mattresses with the insecticide and let dry before allowing human contact. Though these may seem like extreme measures, keep in mind that it is not uncommon for people to repeatedly become infested with headlice, due to contact after treatment with a live lice in their living environment. There is nothing quite as irritating as treating the whole family, just to find a few weeks later that the headlice infestation has returned.

How to Avoid Getting Head Lice

A head lice infestation is one of the most uncomfortable health conditions to cope with, in addition to this; permanently ridding your house of lice can be an extremely difficult task. For these reasons, it is always best to take precautions against you, or anyone in your household becoming infested. One of the most important steps you can take as a precaution against a head lice infestation is to learn as much as you can about these insects, and how they are spread. It’s important to understand that anyone can catch head lice, no matter what their race or social standing is. Head lice are found in all countries, cultures, and social classes. Head lice do not discriminate when it comes to whose head they choose to take up residence on. People with good hygiene can be infested just as fast as someone with bad hygiene. Once this concept is understood, you can then tackle the preventative measures that will need to be taken to ensure that you avoid a head lice infestation. If you have school aged children, it is essential that you examine their head on a regular basis for signs of head lice. It is this age group that is most often infested, especially girls, as they like to share hair accessories and hats. If you are checking your child’s head on a regular basis, you will likely catch it before it becomes very bad. The sooner you catch a head lice infestation, the easier it will be to get rid of. Talk to your children about not sharing personal items with other children at school, such as hats, scarves, combs, etc. This is very important, as this is usually how head lice spreads. If you become aware that someone you, or your children has frequent contact with has become infested with head lice, immediately check everyone’s hair in the house. Head lice spreads very quickly, and you may become infested before you even know someone near you has it. Even if you find nothing during the examination, continue checking on a daily basis for quite some time, as it may take a little while before you can detect them. In addition, even if the infected person close to you treats the head lice infestation, they could very easily become re-infested. The most important thing to remember about avoiding a head lice infestation is to be diligent, especially when there are children in the house.