Saturday, January 26, 2008

Child Head Louse Treatment: 5 Tips to Cure Your Child of Head Lice

Child Head Louse Treatment: 5 Tips to Cure Your Child of Head Lice
Head lice, a rather common problem of school-aged children,
are easy to prevent, but difficult to treat. Children
between the ages of three and 12 are particularly
susceptible to the pests due to the many group settings
that they're a part of, such as daycares, summer camps,
sports activities, and, of course, school.

Many children also tend to share personal items, including
brushes, barrettes, hats, scarves, and clothing, easily
allowing lice to spread quickly even though they cannot fly
or jump, contrary to myth. Additionally, lice are not a
sign of dirtiness as they actually prefer cleaner hair,
which is easier for them to grip onto, and they also do not
spread disease. However, they can still be annoying and
hard to get rid of, and their bites cause itching, which
usually leads to redness and inflammation from constant
scratching.

Here are five helpful and simple child head-louse treatment
tips to cure your little ones of the troublesome but
harmless parasites:

1. The key to successfully eradicating a lice infestation
is a three-step process that must include killing live
lice, removing every single nit (eggs), and also treating
the environment around the infested person, including their
personal belongings.

2. Olive oil, butter, mayonnaise, and petroleum jelly are
all excellent for smothering or suffocating head lice,
which are technically referred to as pediculosis, although
nits will still need to be manually removed. Olive oil is
the easiest of the four to remove from the hair but will
still require several washings.

3. Wet your child's hair before combing through it as the
water immobilizes the lice, allowing for easier removal.
Many people also swear by using a flea comb rather than one
intended to remove lice, although you should never use any
type of flea or tick product on anyone other than the
actual comb. Lice combs should have metal teeth that are no
wider than three-tenths of a millimeter apart.

4. An effective child head-louse treatment doesn't just
involve treating the child, but also the whole house as
well as any other family members who may also have them.
This means washing all bedding, towels, clothing, or
anything else that may be hiding nits in very hot water,
over 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 55 degrees Celsius, and then
dried on the hottest setting.

Items that can't be washed and dried should be dry cleaned
or completely sealed in an airtight bag for at least two
weeks. This should include items such as plush toys,
stuffed animals, and decorative pillows. All carpeting,
throw rugs and upholstered furniture must also be
thoroughly vacuumed. Do keep in mind that lice aren't able
to survive for more than a few days after falling from
their host.

5. A pediculicide, medicated shampoos, creams, or lotions,
may be prescribed by your child's doctor. Lice removal kits
can be purchased over-the-counter if other home treatment
methods are unsuccessful or if the infestation is severe.
On the other hand, some lice may be resistant to some types
of commercial chemicals and require a more non-conventional
method of removal. Never use a hair dryer after using any
products containing chemicals, as some may be extremely
flammable.

Consult with your doctor for ways to treat children under
the age of two, who should not come in contact with most
commercial products, as the chemical solutions are way too
harsh for their young, sensitive scalps. Likewise, you
should never shave your child's head in an attempt to get
rid of lice, although cutting the hair very short may help
to keep the pests at bay.


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treating head lice and head louse. This informative website
provides readers with quality information about home
remedies, over-the-counter and prescription medications and
more. In addition, you'll also find louse and lice removal
products. Please visit http://www.LouseTreatment.net today
and rid yourself of pesky lice now!

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