Posts Tagged ‘head lice’
The itchy truth: What to know about head lice
June 3, 2024•By Mayo Clinic Press Editors You may have the urge to scratch an itch in your hair when you hear about head lice. The tiny insects like to move in and make their home in clean hair while feeding on blood from the human scalp. Knowing how to prevent and treat head lice…
Read MoreCan children’s head lice be treated with mayonnaise or oil? Experts reveal the truth.
Have lice been bugging your family lately? You’re not alone. Professional delousers say they have seen an unfortunate uptick in outbreaks of these icky, hair-residing insects. “There was a resurgence of lice last year. But this year it’s been worse than ever. Adding insult to injury, recent infestations are affecting a larger population of children…
Read MoreHead Lice Education 101
A lice infestation (pediculosis) can make you feel like your head is crawling with a million lice. But the number of lice usually found on a person’s scalp is actually very small. It can be hard to see head lice, let alone count them. But estimating the breadth and duration of an infestation can help…
Read MoreHow do you get lice? Here’s who is most susceptible, and the truth about how it spreads
If you’ve ever parented elementary school-aged children, you know that a call you want to avoid is one from the school nurse notifying you that your child has been exposed to head lice. If such a call has already come, take comfort in knowing you’re not alone. “There are between 6 to 12 million infestations of head lice each…
Read MoreHead Lice DNA Can Reveal Details About First Americans
Head lice have been constant, if unwanted, human companions for as long as our species has been around. Evidence of this ancient connection includes a 10,000-year-old-louse found on human remains at an archaeological site in Brazil and an inscription on a 3,700-year-old ivory lice comb that might be the oldest known sentence written with an…
Read MoreSeptember is Head Lice Prevention Month
September 3, 2023 As the back-to-school season approaches, families are gearing up for a fresh start and exciting learning experiences. However, amidst all the excitement, there’s a concern that often creeps into the minds of parents and caregivers – head lice infestations. September, designated as Head Lice Prevention Month, presents the perfect opportunity to raise…
Read MoreBrief History of Head Lice
Beginning somewhere around 13 million years ago, specific species began to evolve to affect only humans. Pediculus lice are among oldest human parasites and have a long history of association with humans. They accompanied early Homo groups as they migrated out of Africa. As such they represent good markers for tracking human history. About 42,000 to 72,000…
Read MoreDo I Have Lice or am I Paranoid?
Have you ever had that itchy feeling and started imagining that you might have lice? Feeling paranoid about such things is natural, but there are ways to determine whether there’s a problem. Learning some common signs of lice infestation and how to check for them properly can ease your worries and help you take the…
Read MoreWhat are the signs and symptoms of head lice?
What are the signs and symptoms of head lice? Seeing bugs-that is the easiest one. If you see bugs crawling in the hair than it is almost certain the person has head lice Finding lice eggs (nits). You are looking for a needle in a haystack as they are the size of a sesame seed…
Read MoreAmerican Academy of Pediatrics Updates Report on Controlling and Treating Head Lice in Children, Adolescents
Education is key to helping reduce stigma and help manage lice infestations within communities ITASCA, IL–The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated guidance on diagnosing and treating head lice for the first time since 2015, noting that infestations are neither a health hazard nor sign of poor hygiene but can result in significant stigma and…
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