How lice look, the symptoms of pediculosis and its prevention.

The question of how lice look is of interest to many people, especially young mothers. After all, children are especially often affected by pediculosis, a parasitic disease. Its causative agent is the head louse. Scientists distinguish three varieties of lice, adapted to different habitats. This pediculosis of the head, pubic pediculosis and clothing.

So, how do lice look? These are small insects of whitish-gray color, about 3 mm in size. Most lice and nits live on the head, but eyebrows and eyelashes are sometimes affected.

Infection occurs when you are in contact with someone who has pediculosis. The main symptom that should alert parents is itching at the site of lice bites. Also there will be eggs - nits. Therefore, everyone should know how to look like lice to immediately begin treatment.

Lice parasitize only on mammals, and feed on blood. Nits firmly adhere to the hair. The likelihood of the disease with pediculosis increases with poor housing conditions, unsatisfactory hygiene, crowding. It is interesting that even in ancient times people suffered from lice - dried up insects found in mummies! Aristotle left the first reports of these parasites. At present, the peak incidence falls on September, when children go to school, a kindergarten.

Lice can also appear in clean people who zealously observe hygiene. A person who does not even know how lice look and has never seen them can. Enough minute contact with the carrier - and lice move to a man who does not suspect anything about meeting with parasites.

The head louse lives for about 40 days. For 35 days, it is able to lay a lot of eggs (up to 12 per day). Nits look like small, fluid-filled sacs. After exiting the egg, the louse begins to grow, feeding on blood.

Most lice are found in females, as their survival rate increases when a person has long hair. You can get infected through combs, hair brushes, hats. Lice can jump very high, such agility helps them survive.

Pubic pediculosis is caused by a ploschitsey, laying eggs on the skin of the genitals. Externally, the pubic louse is like a crab. Sometimes pubic lice move to the eyebrows, beard, axillary cavities. This unpleasant disease is more common in homosexuals. It is also possible to transfer the pathogen through the loofah, bedding, other personal items.

The louse lives in the folds of clothing, more often affects the skin in the neck, waist, interscapular area. Mostly observed in those who live in unsatisfactory conditions does not comply with hygiene.

Factors contributing to the spread of pediculosis:

- Lack of normal sanitation;

- Migration of people;

- Tourism;

- Accommodation in large groups.

It is necessary to know that from the moment of infection by parasites until the appearance of pruritus, a whole month can pass.

The main symptoms of pediculosis :

- Itching. Occurs with any type of pediculosis. Especially often itches behind the ears, in the region of the temples. With lynx pediculosis, the itching becomes unbearable, diffuse. At night it intensifies.

- A rash may appear a couple of days after bites. Usually there are red spots. With a pediculosis, the skin is pigmented all over the body, has a cyanotic shade. When the bites of the carpenter appear blue small spots (this color is due to the dyeing of the skin).

- Combs. With prolonged carding, purulent crusts appear.

- Nits in the hair. If there are eggs of lice on the head, then the parasites are firmly established there. They look like bubbles. Nits are dead and alive (the latter have a brilliant color).

Diagnosis is carried out by the fluorescent method. Live nits fluoresce white, empty - gray.

Treatment is complex - it is necessary to comb out the nits, treat them with a special remedy (for example, MediFox), wash with shampoo. Folk methods are also used. This mask from vegetable oil, fish oil, kerosene.