What diseases do lice carry?

Pediculosis - An unpleasant disease caused by ectoparasites. Because the lice they feed on blood and it is not known what places they have visited in their entire lives, infected people have serious health concerns. What diseases do lice carry? What is the risk of lice infection for humans?

What diseases do lice carry?

A parasitic lifestyle, constant contact with blood makes a person think that it is possible to get terrible diseases from a small insect. How reasonable are these concerns?

Lice are carriers of typhus and fever. And yourself lice bites do not carry danger. Infection occurs in the case of pressure on the louse. The infected blood of the parasite enters the wounds on the skin of a person, penetrates the body. Nits are not contagious.

Typhus

Symptoms of the disease appear in the first week of the disease. A rash of small pink spots or yellowness appears on the skin. After a day, other unpleasant symptoms join in:

• increase in body temperature;
• chills;
• thirst;
• vomiting
• pain in the back, legs;
• fever.

All signs of intoxication are similar to the influenza virus, if not for a skin rash or yellowness.

The acute form of typhus lasts about a week. Then the visible symptoms begin to disappear, but serious complications are possible. A disorder of the nervous system, thrombosis, pathology of the circulatory system appears. With blockage of the pulmonary artery, death occurs.

There is a vaccine against a terrible disease that protects a person for several years. They make it planned for children, adults who are at risk - travelers, volunteers, doctors. In case of damage, vaccine is contraindicated.

Important!

The carrier of the infection is lice. Pathogenic cells are in the intestines. It enters the surface of human skin through feces. On clothes, the infection lasts about 30 days. But in most cases, infection occurs through the blood of a crushed insect. Transmission of disease cells by the female offspring is not carried out.

Fever

Entrenchment or Volyn fever is not a fatal disease. Lice and other insects parasitize the human body.

Symptoms are similar to the flu virus. The disease develops rapidly with fever, chills, fever, weakness. Later, headache, nausea, muscle aches make itself felt. Symptoms go away after a few days. Treatment is no different from the treatment of flu, colds.

The causative agent is located in the gastrointestinal tract of the insect, gets on the skin along with feces. Lice cannot transfer pathogenic cells with saliva into the human body.

The pathways of the spread of disease are ectoparasites. Lice do not infect themselves, but are carriers that infect the host. Infection persists in the body of an insect throughout its life.

Myths about terrible diseases

A certain part of people suggests that lice are carriers of the hepatitis virus, AIDS. It is assumed that by biting a patient, the parasite itself becomes infected, and when it bites, it transfers the infection to a healthy person. Dangerous virus cells remain on the hair.

Nature decreed somewhat differently.Lice are not infected from humans, are not able to carry the virus. Pathological cells entering the body of the insect are neutralized. Bacteria destroys saliva. When a person bites a louse, it does not transmit viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens.

The only nuisance from lice is an allergic reaction. A person does not immediately feel itching, as allergens accumulate in his blood. For the first time, a person begins to sound the alarm even when the first generation of lice appears. Nymphs begin active nutrition, the number of bites increases, the rate of allergens in the blood.

There are not many diseases that spread lice. But, if an infection of typhus enters the human body, the consequences can be sad. It is very important to comply preventive measuresspend on time pediculosis treatmentuse professional drugs, effective folk remedies.

Routes of distribution of pediculosis

Lice is transmitted in close contact with a sick person, his things. It is not possible to contract lice with a handshake. But, if you are in the same room with the patient for a long time, you can catch lice.

How does pediculosis infection occur

The rapid prevalence of the disease prompted mankind to come up with all kinds of myths - lice jump long distances, fly. The insect has no wings, all limbs are developed equally, which does not allow lice to jump or fly.

Human head louse creeps fast. In a minute it is able to cover a distance of about 35 cm. Due to curiosity or negligence, it crawls onto a person’s clothes, falls to the floor, a pillow. It can crawl only on a rough surface.

Infection occurs when placing their clothes near the things of a sick person, using his comb, hats. If you spend the night in bed, where the patient was less than a day ago.

Interesting!

A certain period of time parasites live outside the human body. Lice can swim on the surface of the water for about 2 days. If at this time they come across a person without a swimming cap, the louse will seize the opportunity. Pediculosis infection will occur in water.

Where does the infection occur?

Pediculosis spreads in public places. The most well-groomed person can suffer. You can pick up lice in:

• the hospital;
• camps;
• house for rest;
• pool;
• school;
• kindergarten;
• in groups for extracurricular activities;
• at work;
• in transport.

Most lice are in prisons, where extremely little attention is paid to sanitation. Pediculosis is spreading in dysfunctional families, among people with no fixed abode.

In the high-risk zone there are always children, adolescents. The main reason is a careless lifestyle, ignorance. Children often cuddle during the game, exchange things, comb. Teenagers lead an active lifestyle, visit different public places, spend the night with friends, girlfriends. Promotes pediculosis infection by close contact with the heads during a kiss.

The consequences of lice

The disease itself is not harmful to health. Even with severe infection, severe blood loss is ruled out. Despite the fact that lice eat every 2 hours for 40 minutes, they drink a minimum amount. Main lice symptom - severe itching. Such a phenomenon does not carry any particular danger either. But the implications for judging how dangerous are lice.

• Severe itching makes you constantly scratch your head. Scratches, abrasions, wounds appear on the skin. A secondary infection is attached, which causes inflammation, the multiplication of pathogens.
• Unpleasant sensations irritate the nervous system. A person becomes nervous, aggressive. The child is crying, acting up for no apparent reason. Constantly observed a bad mood, nervousness.
• Itching keeps you awake. Sleepless nights affect well-being.There is weakness, headache, dizziness. Immunity is weakening. Against the background of all this, the protective reaction of the body decreases, a person becomes vulnerable to various viral, bacterial diseases.

About pediculosis is not customary to talk. This shameful disease affects social relationships. A lousy person is shunned, afraid, despised. This situation is especially typical for adolescents. The child may receive severe psychological trauma, the help of a qualified specialist will be required.

Human head louse

In nature, there are 3 types of lice:

• wardrobe;
• pubic;
• headache.

The latter occurs most often, lives on the head, annoys a person with bites and severe itching.

The incubation period of the disease lasts 10-14 days. Once on a person’s head, lice begin to lay nits. Daily 4 or more eggs. Fastens them with a sticky substance to the hairs at a distance of 1 cm from the roots. What lice and nits look likeshown in the photo.

Larvae develop from 10 to 14 days. Immediately after birth, they begin to parasitize. During the week, 3 molt pass, gradually increase in size. Symptoms of lice are manifested.

On a note!

At the last stage of development, nymphs form genitals. After a week of its existence, the new generation begins to mating. The female lays eggs 2 hours after fertilization. Semen from the first contact is enough to reproduce offspring her whole life - 45 days.

Lice feed exclusively on human blood. The procedure lasts about 40 minutes, every 2 hours. When bitten, an insect secretes a special substance that dilutes the blood and causes an allergic reaction. A person feels a severe itching that does not go away after light scratching. We have to "tear" the skin to the blood.

Interesting!

Pediculosis is developing rapidly. In a month, a whole population of parasites appears on a person’s head. However, even with severe infection on the head of adults, no more than 200 pieces. There is a constant struggle for survival. The weakest are losing ground, leaving a person’s head.

The consequences of pediculosis relate to the physiological, psychological aspects of life. In order to avoid trouble, timely treatment is necessary.