The thought of your child contracting lice can be terrifying. After all, schools have a strict no-nit policy and the social stigma of lice can be damaging for a young child. Most parents dread the day they find small, wingless parasites making their child’s scalp their home.
With a reported prevalence of 3.4 to 3.5 percent, your child is likely to contract lice at some point. Here’s what you should know to prepare for the day that happens:
What are head lice?
It’s inevitable that your child will get head lice. The best thing you can do is prepare in advance and be armed with the knowledge that you need to combat the problem. A louse is a parasitic insect that feeds on human blood; it can attach itself to human heads, eyelashes, and eyebrows and, cause itching and discomfort.
If you look closely, you’ll be able to see these tiny, wingless creatures crawling around your child’s roots and along the hair shaft. They don’t spread disease and are not an indication of other health-related concerns, though!
It’s very common
When you find out your child’s scalp has been infested by lice, you go through a range of emotions. The most prevalent one being the embarrassment that comes with realizing that you neglected your child’s hygiene. But stop right there!
Lice affect most children between the ages of 3 and 12 years, regardless of their hygiene. In fact, lice are said to inhabit cleaner scalps as opposed to dirtier ones. There is, thus, no correlation between your child’s cleanliness and the incidence of lice.
It’s merely something that happens frequently and can affect anyone.
How did your child get them?
You’ll find lice most commonly on your child’s head. This is because it’s easiest for them to attach themselves onto the scalp. Lice can’t jump or fly; this means the only way they can be transferred from one person to another is through direct contact.
If your child touches their head to that of a child with lice, they’re likely to provide a path for the pesky parasites to crawl onto their hair. Keeping your child’s hair open makes them more vulnerable to unwanted louse too.
Can lice live in the garments my child wore?
Any piece of clothing that has touched your child’s head is at risk of being infected for the next few days. Lice need a human host to survive; when a louse is taken off the scalp, it can only live for the next 24 hours.
To prevent the lice from returning, it’s advised to wash all hats, shirts, and other articles of clothing with hot water to ensure all traces of lice are obliterated.
Should you call in the professionals?
What makes lice such a nightmare for parents is that it can recur shortly after. This is most likely when you fail to get rid of it the right way or don’t consider all options before you go in.
Seeking the help of experts is the best thing you can do to ensure your child doesn’t have to deal with lice again. Our trained professionals, at
Lice Troopers, provide holistic lice removal services in
Plantation, Florida. Not only does our team use the best treatment products and latest techniques to clear your child’s head of lice, we also ensure the home and school are clear of any lice. Thorough
inspections and cleanings are done using only the best, pesticide free products.
With Lice Troopers, you can rest assured with our guarantee that we’ll provide an effective solution in the first treatment!
Call us now to book an appointment to visit our lice treatment salon.
