How to treat pediculosis at home in children and adults

Pediculosis It is customary to call the state of lice. Infection with lice is more likely to affect children, but this problem does not bypass adults. Despite the fact that infection with small insects can occur even in crowded vehicles, in a swimming pool, in a bath, they are bashfully silent about lice and conduct pediculosis treatment on their own, without resorting to the help of specialists. Fortunately for the elimination of lice, there are many pharmacy drugs and alternative methods that allow you to get rid of parasites in one or several procedures.

What happens lice

There are three kind of human lice: head, pubic, they are also flat and clothes. All of them feed exclusively on blood and they are not at all interested in any other diet. Even the blood of other warm-blooded species does not attract parasites. Therefore, the possibility of infection with lice from animals is completely excluded.

On a note!

Cats, dogs have their own kind of parasites - beetle eaterswhich are very similar to lice.

In accordance with what insects have chosen the body, types of pediculosis are:

• head;
• pubic;
• wardrobe.

Each of them has its own symptoms and treatment.

Head lice

Head lice can be in children and adults. According to statistics, it is most often found in the age group from 15 to 24 years old and in children under 14 years of age. Culprit of the disease - head louse. A gray insect with a short body of 2-3 mm lives only in hair with a circular cross section: on the head, in the beard, on the mustache. After saturation, it turns red, purple. What lice and nits look like in the hair demonstrates a photo.

On a note!

Parasites breed very fast. Every day, the female lays up to 5 eggs - nits, which she attaches to the hair through an adhesive substance. The shell reliably protects the embryo, so nits are practically not susceptible to insecticides.

In the early days, when the lice on the head of a child or adult have not yet bred sufficiently, their presence goes unnoticed. Subsequently, the following lice symptoms:

• the appearance of severe itching, provoked lice bites;
• the formation of pustules, boils on the skin caused by infection during scratching;
• restlessness, irritability;
• the appearance on the hair of tiny white capsules that look like dandruff.

See the difference between dandruff and nits can be in the photo. Nits visually the same size and remove them from the hair is quite difficult. Dandruff is a flake of various sizes and can be easily removed.

Lice infestation occurs when in contact with an infected person - a brief contact with the heads is enough for the parasite to crawl to the new owner, as well as the use of combs, headgear of the lice carrier. Most often, infection occurs in crowded places: school, kindergartens, pre-schools, camps, public transport. Children become infected during games, joint selfie.

Interesting!

Lice are more common in girls than in boys. Such selectivity is not due at all to the length of the hair, but to the fact that young people often change with each other with combs, jewelry for hairstyles, try on and lend hats.

Having identified lice, parents think about how to treat pediculosis in children. In medical institutions, a pediatrician or dermatologist diagnoses and prescribes drugs. Due to the presence of large quantities pediculicides and folk recipes, pediculosis treatment is possible at home.

Important!

A pediatrician is required for children with asthma, as well as if the child is under 2 years old.

Head lice treatment

There are many ways to get rid of parasites. Most of them come down to applying the mixture to the hair and then combing nits. You can do this yourself or with the help of specialists. An important point is also apartment sanitation: bedding, tools, combs, hair ornaments, hats. If lice are found in at least one family member, all households need to be checked and prevented.

Features of the treatment of pediculosis in specialized companies

In large cities, there are companies whose specialization is the treatment of pediculosis. By calling the operator, the patient agrees on the time of the procedure. Measures to eliminate parasites are carried out at the client’s home, no preparation for the arrival of specialists is required.

Advantages of contacting the company:

• treatment for lice and nits in a child, adults is carried out through a special technology without the use of chemicals, so the procedure is allowed even for babies, pregnant and lactating women;
• to remove insects, one session is enough, after which no adult, nits or larvae remain in the hair;
• the specialists provide a guarantee and in the event of lice appearing within the specified period, they conduct free re-processing
• children are given a certificate of the absence of parasites.

On a note!

To cure pediculosis in a specialized clinic will cost at least 1,500 rubles. This amount includes treatment of one person, verification of all family members, recommendations for prevention and training in combing techniques.

Rules for the treatment of head from lice at home

Regardless of the chosen tool, the algorithm for removing lice is the same. How to treat head lice:

1. Before the procedure, it is necessary to test the drug to exclude the possibility of allergic reactions. To do this, a small amount of the product is applied to the elbow area or on the wrist for 1-2 hours, during which the condition of the skin and overall well-being are monitored.
2. Processing is carried out in a well-ventilated area.
3. The selected product is distributed on the strands along the entire length. Some drugs are applied to wet curls, for the use of others, the hair should be thoroughly dried. In order to avoid contact of chemical components on the forehead and mucous membranes of the eye, a protective visor is put on the patient.
4. After applying the product, the head is covered with a plastic cap to create a greenhouse effect and speed up the process.

   

5. The exposure is maintained from 15 minutes to several hours, depending on the composition of the drug and the manufacturer's recommendations.
6. At the end of the set time, the mixture is washed off and the hair is rinsed vinegar solutionto dissolve the sticky substance with which nits are attached to the hair.
7. Using a comb with frequent cloves, it is necessary to carefully comb out dead adult individuals, larvae, nits. This is the longest and most monotonous, tedious stage, but the final outcome of the event depends on it.

On a note!

Periodically clean during combing. nits comb using a napkin. Often at home, for this purpose, a container with hot water above 70 ° C is used, into which the scallop is lowered and at the same time the adhering individuals are removed and destroyed.

Features of the elimination of lice in children

The treatment of pediculosis in children has its own nuances. The babies have not yet developed a strong immunity and constant bites of lice can provoke anemia, severe allergic reactions. By virtue of their age, children do not differ in perseverance, and it is rare that a child under the age of 3 years will humbly sit on a stool waiting for his mother to comb out all the lice.

On a note!

Children's pediculosis in crumbs up to 2 years old is most often treated in a radical way - by cutting hair naked. This technique allows you to forget about lice in one procedure and not expose the child to the stress associated with combing nits.

When choosing pediculicidal drugs for children, you should carefully study the instructions, which indicate age restrictions, possible manifestations of side effects, the exposure time of the mixture on the head.

To eliminate lice in children, you should pay attention to the Nit Free series (Nit Free), a distinctive feature of which is the absence of toxic chemical compounds in the composition:

• Shampoo Nit Free from lice and nits contains the composition aromatic oilsIt has a pleasant mint smell. Effectively combats parasites. Suitable for daily use and can be used not only as a medical, but also prophylactic. The price of a bottle of 237 ml is 1090 rubles.
• Nit Free oil covers nimble adults with an oil film, resulting in suffocation and death of the parasite. Facilitates combing out of insects and nits. According to manufacturers, one treatment is often enough to completely get rid of lice. The price of the bottle is 1090 rubles.
• Sprays for the detection of nits - for light and dark hair, a separate type of drug has been developed. When applying the spray on the hair, the nits are highlighted in a bright pink tint, making them easy to find and comb out. The price is 1200 rubles.

Also, anti-pediculary medications are used for children:

Pharmaceutical preparations for the control of parasites

Preparations for the treatment of pediculosis are dispensed without a prescription. They are presented as shampoos, ointments, sprayslotions. Conventionally, all funds are divided into 2 categories:

• Preparations based on insecticidal compounds: fenthion, permethrin, malathion, pyrethroids. They have a negative effect on the nervous system of insects, which entails their death. Effective against adults, larvae. The main disadvantage is the lack of ovicidal properties, that is, they do not affect nits. Therefore, to completely get rid of lice, repeated treatment is necessary.
  Treatment of pediculosis in a child with drugs from this series is possible from 2-5 years old, depending on the manufacturer. It is contraindicated for women during pregnancy, lactation, as well as people with dermatological diagnoses to use insecticides.
• Pediculicides based on dimethicone and cyclomethicone after application envelop the parasites with the thinnest silicone film, blocking the flow of air, which leads to their immobilization and further death. Compared with drugs that include insecticidal components, this series is safer to use and less likely to trigger allergic reactions.

The treatment of pediculosis at home is carried out using the following drugs:

• Medifox series represented by gel and concentrate. The active ingredient is permethrin. On hair it is maintained about 30 minutes;
• Couple plus - An effective remedy against lice at all stages of development is available in the form of an aerosol;

  

• Pedilin is made in the form of a gel, concentrate, emulsion. The composition includes 2 insecticides that effectively affect lice and nits;
• Nyuda remedy;
• Paranit based on mineral oils, suffocates on parasites;
• benzyl benzoate;
• shampoo and spray Lavinal from lice and nits;
• Nok - shampoo for removing lice even during pregnancy;
• Sumitrin Higia - insecticidal shampoo;
• Reed Nyx, Veda - detergents to get rid of lice.

This is not a complete list of all the funds that the modern pharmaceutical industry produces for adults and children.

Alternative methods of treating head lice

Treatment of pediculosis in adults and children can be carried out with the use of folk remedies, the effectiveness of which has been proven by time. Not all of them can boast of security.

On a note!

Techniques such as getting rid of lice with kerosene or Dichlorvos can do more harm than good, so you can consider them only for educational purposes only. It is strictly forbidden to use them to treat children.

However, there are folk remedies for pediculosis that deserve attention.

Vinegar Against Lice

The classic version of the preparation of vinegar solution involves mixing 2 parts of water at room temperature and one part of table, apple or wine vinegar 9%. A few drops are added if desired. tea tree essential oil. Then the following actions are carried out:

• treat the strands with the mixture along the entire length, to accelerate the process, it can be applied by means of a thin towel soaked in vinegar;
• cover your head with polyethylene and withstand from 30 minutes to an hour;
• comb out the parasites using a comb.

Repeated procedure is carried out in 3-4 days. Vinegar can be used to treat children older than 5 years, provided that they do not have an individual intolerance to the table seasoning.

Birch tar against pediculosis

Tar soap or shampoo with the same name have a characteristic specific aroma. Tar-based products have an antiparasitic, antibacterial and drying effect, relieve itching. Elimination of lice in children is carried out only after a test for possible allergic reactions. The procedure for the treatment of pediculosis is identical to the vinegar method, only in this case, not vinegar, but tar soap is applied to the hair.

On a note!

Previously popular dust lice soap. But later this remedy was recognized as dangerous to health.

Hellebore water

Tincture is prepared from a poisonous plant with the addition of alcohol. Type of severe toxicity hellebore water It is not used to treat children under 12 years old, and also if there is damage to the skin in the form of abrasions, scratches, wounds. The product is applied to the hair, avoiding direct contact with the scalp. Treated hair is covered with a plastic hat. After 10-30 minutes, rinse off the helical water from the head and comb out the nits and dead lice.

Important!

Hellebore water is very toxic and is used only for external use. Even a small drop that enters the body can cause death.If such signs appear: convulsions, dizziness, palpitations, seek medical help immediately.

Pediculosis prophylaxis is reduced to regular examination of children in preschool and school institutions. It is also necessary to carry out outreach to your child so that he does not change his headgear, does not borrow other people's combs.

Pubic lice

Pubic lice (phthiasis) is more likely to affect adults than children. Pubic Louse lives in the pubic hair, in the anus, in the armpits. In children can settle on the eyelasheseyebrows. The insect is not particularly mobile and often sits motionless in the immediate vicinity of the skin. By regrowing hair, you can determine the approximate time of the appearance of lice. An adult insect is able to fall into a state close to suspended animation.

On a note!

Most infections result from sexual contact. Therefore, the most effective treatment methods can be prescribed by a venereologist, since pubic lice often comes with sexually transmitted diseases.

You can get infected with plaques as a result of contact with things of the carrier: towels, sleeping accessories. This is how pubic lice go to children. The possibility of infestation in pools, tanning salons, and beaches is not ruled out.

Symptoms of pubic lice:

• the appearance of severe itching;
• bluish spots on the affected areas;
• irritation, redness of the skin, the appearance of eczema;
• brown dots - excrement of lice on underwear.

The easiest way to treat it is to shave off the “vegetation”. If you do not want to part with your hair, anti-pedicular drugs are used: ointments, creams, lotions.

Hanging lice

Cootie He spends most of his time in clothes; she is on a person only during a meal. She is also called linen, bed. Bites any exposed areas of the body that come in contact with things. The parasite with the same zeal parasitizes both adults and children. Lice Bites painful and often confused with traces bedbug bites. The main condition for the parasite to live is a rare change of linen, clothes and a comfortable temperature regime.

The treatment of clothes lice consists of two stages:

• hygienic procedure using a washcloth and detergent;
• sanitization of things through insecticides, high or low temperatures.

In order to get rid of bed lice, you can pack contaminated clothes in bags and keep them for 2-3 weeks. During this time, clothes parasites will die.