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Helpful Head Lice Facts
Get to Know the Basic Facts • They are small parasitic insects, which feed from human blood that they draw from the scalp. • They are reliant on humans for food and for warmth. • An adult insect can lay a lot of eggs. The eggs are attached to hair strands using a substance called chitin. This substance makes eggs very difficult to remove from hair strands. • An adult insect will have an average lifespan of approximately 30 days, providing they keep in contact with the host. • When separated from the host, a louse will have a life span of just 72 hours. • An adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, and will be a dark tan/brown color. • Nits, the insect eggs, are much smaller, and can be felt between the fingertips. The Myth about Head Lice Transmission Many people think that the parasites can either fly or jump to and from hosts, but the truth is, a louse lacks the capability to do either activity. Instead, they move via direct or indirect contact. For example, you could catch the insects by rubbing heads, or sharing headwear, with someone who already has an infestation. A louse has six legs. From each leg protrudes a claw that allows it to grab hair extremely well, allowing it to move with speed both forwards and backwards through the hair and the scalp. A louse does not have wings, so it certainly can’t fly! You’d be amazed by some of the myths, but it’s important to only pay attention to the actual facts! The Most Important Facts: Effective Treatments All this information and data is well and good but the most important information that you’ll be interested in is effective treatments. Over the counter products often contain pesticides. Many are unsuitable for use on pregnant women. If this concerns you, you can use alternative home remedies. Alternative remedies are just as effective as and a lot more affordable than over the counter products. These remedies have been used by families for years, and have helped many parents eradicate their infestation problems from their homes. The most essential tool you need to combat any infestation is a nit comb. If you decide to go for a manual comb, make sure you purchase a comb with metallic teeth. Electronic combs are a little more expensive, but they are preferred by some parents because they zap and kill the parasites on contact, making the process of removal that much easier. It is absolutely imperative that you treat your home, as well as treating your family. A louse can survive for up to three days away from the host and has the capacity to restart an infestation. It is imperative that you treat all furniture, bedding and carpets to remove any lingering insects waiting to restart a community on a new and unsuspecting host. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Nancy Williams is a regular mom who has produced well researched articles, containing a number of useful head lice facts. For more information and Head Lice Facts, Visit Head Lice Information. |
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