lice in children

What to do against lice?

The child sits doing homework and has his hands constantly scratching his head, complaining of itching. Upon closer inspection, you discover little black critters on your child’s head and can’t believe your eyes. But before you panic and put your child in the shower, start cleaning the house with disinfectant and immediately alert neighbors, teachers, schoolmates and playmates of your child, it is important to stay calm. The head lice can be fought relatively well and with simple home remedies.

The head lice

If the head is infested with lice, the prejudice usually prevails that this person must be unhygienic. But this is not true at all! A louse infestation can affect the most hygienic person, even someone who washes his hair every day. The head louse only chooses humans as its “host”. The ideal temperature for their “breeding place” is about 32°. Therefore, the head is the ideal breeding place for the louse. The head louse is a parasite, lives for about 30 days and lives on human blood. The unpleasant itching is caused by the puncture in the scalp. The adult louse grows to about 3 mm in size and lays an average of 250 eggs during its short life. Although lice do not transmit diseases, it is still in the nature of humans to get rid of these parasites as soon as possible.

spread of lice

Louse infestation is mainly observed on children’s heads. The reason for this is that children’s heads “stick together” more often than adults’. There is more frequent contact at school, kindergarten or when playing together. Also through clothing, mainly headgear such as hoods or bicycle helmets, the bloodsuckers are most often transmitted. Therefore, be sure to explain to your child how important it is not to mix up head coverings.

Home remedies for lice in children

The first act when you discover lice on your child’s head will probably be to wash the child’s head as quickly as possible. But which shampoo is best to use? There are plenty of shampoos on the market for lice control. But beware: most shampoos contain insecticides such as permethrin, malathion or lindane! These chemicals irritate the skin and can cause allergies. Lindane is even said to be carcinogenic. So before resorting to chemicals, it is better to use simple home remedies. Basically, you should get a nit comb or lice comb as soon as possible. Combing should be done daily and should be thorough and careful. Due to the narrow tines of the comb, the lice and also the nits can be captured well. In addition to regular use of the comb, washing the hair with shampoos containing soy or coconut oil is also recommended. The oil causes the lice to suffocate in it. Vinegar rinses with common household vinegar can also work many a miracle. Another home remedy is to massage in mayonnaise (80% fat) and leave it on for a short time. The fat is not very good for the lice, they suffocate in it.

The environment is also part of the treatment of lice

In addition to head care, the environment in which the child spends time should also be treated. Carpets should be thoroughly cleaned with a vacuum cleaner on a regular basis. Clothing and bedding should be washed at 60°, this kills the parasites. Soft toys should also be treated. If you can’t put them in the washing machine, they should either be put in the freezer or wrapped in a plastic bag (sealed airtight) for 2 days. This will also kill the lice.
By the way, the lice comb should not be missing in any medicine cabinet.

So the next time the lice alarm is called out, there is no need to panic right away, there are numerous very effective remedies.

[Please note: Our articles cannot replace the advice of a doctor. In case of health problems, please always consult a doctor you trust].