My son caught lice, now what?

Which mother is not desperate when she sees her son scratching his head over and over? The lice They are pests that spread rapidly from head to head and spread steadily through direct contact.

Although not quite a certain age, it is very common for head lice to come into the head of children quite quickly due to contact with others in schools or day care centers. It can be through a simple hug, being very close to your friend or even by borrowing a cap, hairpin, hairbrush or any other object that has crossed the contaminated head.

Head lice are not synonymous with poor hygiene, on the contrary, they prefer clean, dry and non-greasy scalp to be able to expand quickly. In the dirty head, they end up causing injuries.

If the child complains of itching in the scalp, nape and behind the ears, look for nits (eggs) and lice between the strands.

If your child really has a louse, you need to be treated as soon as possible to prevent contamination not only of your friends, but everyone around you, and stop itching.

How to find lice?

Intense scalp itching is the main lice infestation symptom. These parasites are harmless and are about 3 mm in size. Head lice can be found through a visual examination of the child's scalp, which may be dry or wet.

Lice Treatment

Head lice can live up to two months in the head and can lay up to 300 eggs in this period. Therefore, it is necessary to treat as soon as possible so that the parasites do not multiply, to relieve the itchy head and, especially, to avoid contamination in other children.

The first reaction of many mothers to discovering that their child has lice is to shave their hair or cut very short. Most of the time, this is not the most appropriate measure. It is recommended to seek the guidance of a pediatrician to indicate products such as soaps or permethrin-based shampoos, effective substance to eliminate lice once and for all.

How to Eliminate Head Lice

O lice eliminator It should always be applied in the bath, preferably before bedtime to prevent the child from bringing the hair to the mouth. Wash the strands carefully and then comb your hair several times to eliminate nits and lice that, even dead, cling to the strands.

If your child's scalp is not very irritated, make a homemade recipe by mixing two tablespoons of vinegar and a quart of water to help detach the nits (eggs) and lice. Remember that this homemade recipe to kill head lice It does not replace the medicine, it only serves as an auxiliary measure to remove the rest of the pets.

Depending on the effectiveness of the product, a single application may be sufficient. If the parasite persists, the child may become infected again. Therefore, you need to choose good quality products and apply them correctly.

Q&A about kids and head lice: What parents need to know (April 2024)