Head Lice: A Behavioral Problem
Most deadly childhood diseases such as mumps, measles, polio etc. have been cured by the medical researches undertaken in the past century and hardly anybody talks about it nowadays. However, ailments such as cold and head lice infestation have not been defeated.
The human louse is small bug causing the head lice and lives on human blood. The louse like fleas and ticks can live only on humans and is only able to hang on to places with hair. That's why we see lice on humans most commonly as pubic lice and head lice.
There are many reasons for children being more vulnerable to lice infestation. This doesn't mean to say that children are shabby. Only that, their behavior and the activities that form a major part of their daily lives makes them more susceptible to lice. Children offer share their hats and toys which come into direct contact with their hair, a possible way of spreading lice. Unlike adults, children like to cuddle to each other which magnifies the probability of lice infestation.
Just like common cold, lice can be easily treated and is a minor annoyance. There are many delousing shampoos available in the market. The shampoos on the regular application for few days kill the lice and prevent the eggs from hatching. You also have to comb the hair with a fine- tooth comb to remove lice eggs.
Additionally, lice do not carry any blood born ailments and to that extent, they are harmless and do not cause any viral infections.This is unlike many other insects like mosquitoes which carry media of diseases Apart from itching and causing annoyance, there is no other risk from lice. It is a good thing to prevent lice from other sources but there are also cures available .
Still, lice are annoying, so people are always searching for ways to keep them at bay. In children, schools and daycares have changed some of their practices in order to prevent the spread of lice. For example, naps no longer occur with children lying on mats on the floor. Rather, the children often place their heads on their desk and sleep with at least a foot of separation. Also, parents discourage their children from sharing hats or putting other children's toys near their heads, further reducing the chances of spreading lice.
Despite our best efforts, head lice will likely remain common, at least among children, so long as they are near each other. Even with modern sanitation and regular cleaning, since lice are only a minor nuisance, simple treatments will be considered fine by individuals and society. Head lice may only disappear one day if we choose to place an effort on their extinction as we did with smallpox and polio.
The human louse, causes infestations of pubic lice and head lice in areas covered by hair. This is a common ailment affecting primarily children. Children are more likely to be in close contact and share items that transfer the pests, such as hats or combs. Treatment is simple and commonly available, only requiring application of delousing shampoos or using a fine-tooth comb. While they are parasites, they do not carry blood-borne diseases and do not pose a threat of transmitting viral infections. Perhaps, if stringent prevention and eradication programs are carried out, this disease may completely disappear.
Published May 30th, 2007
Filed in Health
