The Perils of Pediculosis -
How To Treat Head Lice Effectively

Pediculosis , more commonly known as head lice , is one of the most common hair disorders affecting school-aged children – and one of the most infuriating for parents to deal with. This article contains information on what causes the condition, symptoms to look for and how to treat the condition effectively.

What Causes Pediculosis ?

Pediculosis occurs when the scalp is infested by small, wingless creatures known as head lice. Contrary to popular myth, head lice cannot jump from person to person. Instead, they are transmitted by close personal contact, or contact with the personal effects or clothing of, someone with the condition.

What Are Head Lice ?

Head lice are tiny, wingless creatures that feed on human blood, spending their whole life on the scalp. They are related to body lice, and more distantly to pubic lice. During their life cycle, female lice lay eggs – commonly called nits – which are attached to human hair using a glue-like substance.

How Does The Condition Present Itself?

The most common symptom is itching on or around the head area, as a result of bites from the lice. Bites may be evident high up on the back of the neck or behind the ears, particularly in long-hair individuals. Close inspection of the hair may reveal moving lice, or nits stuck to the hair shafts.

Treatment of Head Lice

A wide variety of commercially-available products and home-remedies may be used to treat the condition. Commercial preparations containing pyrethrins are usually very effective at killing the lice and eggs, as are a number of home remedies. One such method is mixing mayonnaise, vinegar and a little tea-tree oil and ‘shampooing' the hair with this mixture. The mayonnaise suffocates the lice, while the vinegar and tea-trea oil kill the eggs. Removal of the lice and nits is also necessary. Smothering the hair with olive oil, hair conditioner or mayonnaise breaks the ‘glue' holding the eggs to the hair shafts, making them much easier to remove.

How To Prevent Pediculosis

Many schools nowadays have a policy whereby either children with pediculosis are excluded from school or childcare settings until the condition is treated or, at the very least, that the condition must be promptly treated by parents. Outbreaks in families can be prevented from spreading by washing all bedding and towels belonging to the afflicted person. Cleaning the home area as a whole generally isn't necessary, as lice tend to die quickly once removed from their food source.