The unexpected arrival of the pandemic has impacted all aspects of daily life, without going further into the well-known head lice, a battle that repeats itself every year.
During the pandemic, the incidence of head lice was significantly reduced due to established social distancing health measures.
Through the study conducted by Cinfa and approved by the Spanish Society of Clinical, Family and Community Pharmacy (SEFAC), it was shown that 50.7% of children had to face the battle of lice at some point during the three years preceding the pandemic.
What is pediculosis and how is it transmitted?
Head lice, more commonly known as the famous “head lice”, are one of the most contagious conditions along with the common cold.
It affects girls more with 55.8% compared to 47.5% of boys. Julio Maset, Cinfa’s doctor, points out: “This fact explains why long hair requires a greater surface area for the transmission of parasites”.
Although head lice can be spread in a variety of ways, the most common is by direct contact, head-to-head, as they don’t jump or fly, but they move.
How do i know if my child has head lice?
The most frequent warning sign when it comes to detecting head lice is itching. It is accompanied by the persistent urge to scratch, which usually occurs between the first and fourth week after infection.
Although it is a rather annoying symptom, it is not dangerous to health. It can cause some lesions on the scalp, such as a reddish papule (small swelling). The study also shows that in very rare cases it could cause a bacterial infection.
In case of suspicion, it is necessary to inspect the hair and use a nit comb to check if there is an infestation.
In the event that the diagnosis is confirmed and parasites are present, it is important that the rest of the family members use a preventive repellent. Also, keep them away from the infested person.
Pediculosis affects both children and their parents psychologically
According to the study, social stigmas play a pivotal role, turning the condition into a taboo. Many people continue to think that having lice is associated with poor hygiene, a long-standing but false belief, as it has nothing to do with social class or economic status.
Failure to normalize the problem leads to the spread of outbreaks and worsening of the situation, as many families hide this information out of shame.
Another setback is school absenteeism which occurs when the child is discovered to be infested. In addition to the economic difficulty it poses for many families due to the high price of these products.
With prevention, you win the battle against lice
According to research, nine out of ten families apply lice treatment, but only 17% manage to do it correctly.
“The data reveals that lice infestations are now more frequent and difficult to treat due to increased resistance, most often generated by incorrect application of the product,” says the expert.
Dr. Maset recommends ten tips so that winning the battle against them is not a problem.
- Know your enemies.
- First of all, caution. If there are cases around you, check the whole family’s scalp with a nit comb and use repellent.
- Learn to pass the hair correctly. It is done strand by strand, from root to tip, focusing on the nape and behind the ears.
- If you confirm that there are lice, notify the school and the rest of your environment.
- Choose the right treatment. Always keep in mind the instructions of the pharmacist, or pediatrician in the case of children under the age of two.
- Don’t trust home treatments.
- Follow the pediculicide instructions to the letter.
- Do not use the dryer, as the heat inactivates the effect of the pediculicide.
- Extreme hygiene in the house. It is important to wash combs, clothes and accessories with pediculicide or very hot (60º) water.
- Keep an eye on your children’s heads for the next few days. If necessary, reapply the product after seven days.
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