Pediculosis is a disease that can develop in every person, regardless of his age, social status and hygiene regime. This is a contagious disease. In order to catch lice, you just need to stand or walk next to a person who is their carrier. No one is immune from this, especially for children, since they are often in close contact with others in children's groups, which means they can pick up lice faster than adults.
But one insect does not cause head lice. To make such a diagnosis, a more significant lice infestation and development of the parasite population must be present. After how many days can it be said that a person has lice? Let's take a closer look below.
How to treat pediculosis
Previously, in most cases of lice infection, people had to shave their heads, but now there are many ways and means to rid hair of lice and nits. Treatment can be carried out independently at home, or you can contact a specialist to prescribe medications.
This method is very effective and ideal for self-treatment, since almost every person has a hair dryer or hair straightening iron at home. Because lice die at temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius, thorough hair drying or straightening can kill them.
Pharmacies sell a large number of products aimed at combating lice and nits. They are produced in the form of balms, sprays, shampoos, creams, solutions, gels and ointments. These products contain components that destroy the nervous structure of insects. But their effectiveness is not 100%, since they act directly on lice, and not on nits.
Products that contain dimethicone and cyclomethicone act on a different principle; they envelop both lice and nits with a thin, durable film that does not allow air to pass through, as a result of which the insects die. These drugs are highly effective, but can cause allergies.
Before purchasing any medicine, it is recommended to consult a doctor, especially if children under 6 years of age and/or pregnant women are being treated.
People know dozens of ways to combat annoying parasites, including:
- petrol;
- kerosene;
- dichlorvos;
- vinegar;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- laundry soap;
- decoctions of poisonous plants;
- and much more.
In the modern world, pediculosis is not considered a disease of “dirty” and “sloppy” people, since absolutely anyone can become infected with it. Treatment should begin immediately as soon as nits are discovered in the hair, since it is not difficult to remove them when there are few of them, but after 1-2 months a horde of insects will cause a lot of suffering to its owner.
Number of offspring
One female is capable of producing from 3 to 5 eggs per day. You can calculate how many nits an individual will lay during its life cycle, which is about 45 days, so you get about 200 eggs. If a couple of pests get on your hair, then in about a month about 30 eggs will appear on the new carrier. In just a couple of weeks, there will be tens of times more lice ready to reproduce. Therefore, the fight against the parasite must be carried out immediately after the first symptoms of invasion are detected.
What determines the length of the incubation period for pediculosis?
Summarizing, we can sum up how long it may take for a person infected with lice to fully feel the presence of parasites on his body and sound the alarm. Its duration is affected by the type of lice, their initial number that got to the victim, as well as the circumstances that provoked the infection. It is the last point that has not yet been disclosed, although the protective measures that can be taken to avoid such a nuisance as encountering lice directly depend on it.
Most often, such situations lead to the discovery of blood-sucking insects.
- Long-term isolated accumulation of people - work collectives, organized recreation (boarding houses, tourist centers, camps, sanatoriums, hotels, collective hikes), places of deprivation of liberty, dormitories, boarding schools, barracks, camps for refugees or victims of disasters.
- Organization of studies and leisure (school, kindergartens, nurseries, clubs, sports sections, fitness, gym, swimming pool).
- Traveling on a train, especially with an overnight stay, or on a plane or bus over a long distance.
- Visiting hairdressing salons, public steam rooms and saunas.
- Renting temporary housing, be it a hotel or a rented apartment.
It is no less dangerous to try on or borrow other people's things - linen, towels, clothes, hats and headwear.
Prevention methods
Preventing head lice is quite simple. It comes down to observing basic rules of personal hygiene. Those with long hair are advised to wear a ponytail or tuck their hair under a hat when using public transport. You should also not use extraneous hats, towels, hygiene items, or combs.
If infection cannot be avoided, it is necessary to prevent the further spread of head lice. Bed linen, towels, and hats should be boiled and ironed. How to treat an apartment for head lice? To do this you need to use special tools. They are sold in hardware stores.
After infection, it is important to undergo examination by a dermatologist, who will prescribe therapy, and notify contact persons in the garden, school, and relatives about the disease. The recovery process should be regularly monitored by a specialist.
Timing depending on treatment method
If the presence of lice is confirmed, you need to prepare for a long and grueling fight against this parasite.
Mechanical method
This method of combating lice and nits can be considered effective, but time-consuming and labor-intensive. It includes daily combing out parasites with a thick comb with a distance between teeth of 0.2 mm, and inspecting the hair. After each combing, the comb must be thermally treated.
The second method of eliminating lice is shaving the hair bald. Of course, it may not be suitable for everyone, except perhaps for children and adult men. It would be a pity if the girl has gorgeous long hair. Here parents will have to work hard in the fight against insects.
High temperatures
Lice are afraid not only of cold, but also of exposure to high temperatures. In some cases, lice may become lethargic and not as active at a constant temperature of +200C. The higher the temperature rises, the worse the parasite becomes. From excessive heat it moves away from the skin.
- If the temperature is above +400C, then the lousy female cannot reproduce.
- When the temperature ranges between +45-600C, adult individuals may die. But the larvae are more resistant to such heat.
- If the indicator exceeds +600C and above, then rotten eggs die at this stage.
When exposed to high temperatures, lice's internal organs are disrupted, which leads to their death. You can use hot air from a hair dryer, an iron, or a trip to the bathhouse.
Chemicals
In pharmacy chains you can purchase special drugs - pediculicides. By treating your hair with it, you can get rid of parasitic insects. Please note that such products cannot always produce results after one application; most often, repeated treatment is required. After treatment, re-washing the hair is carried out no earlier than three days later.
Depending on the age category of the patient, a chemical substance is selected. This category of drugs is not suitable for combating lice in children, pregnant and nursing mothers. This could be Pedilin, Pedex, Parasidosis and others.
The same medication should not be used more than three times. Carry out the treatment with rubber gloves.
Folk remedies
The mechanical method uses a special comb with fine teeth. Neem's hair is combed daily to remove nits and adult parasites. Combing must also be done after baiting lice for several days.
Since ancient times, lice have been fought with the help of dust soap, which can negatively affect insects at any stage of their development. The hair is washed, a film cap is put on top for 10-15 minutes, then the head is rinsed with water. Treatment should be carried out several times for preventive purposes.
Another effective folk remedy is kerosene.
It must be handled with care as it is a toxic substance. The same goes for hellebore water.
It is not used for children.
Mechanical removal of lice
In addition to pharmaceutical and folk remedies for the treatment of pediculosis, there is also a mechanical method.
Just a few decades ago, it meant manually removing nits and lice from hair. However, today this method is practically not used. It was replaced by a special comb. It is equipped with fine teeth, the structure of which allows hair to pass through and trap parasites, their larvae and eggs. The scalp is not damaged. The use of such a comb in conjunction with pharmaceutical shampoos or folk remedies only enhances the effectiveness of the therapy.
You can also purchase an electric version. The action of such a comb is based on electrical impulses. They are harmless to humans, but deadly to insects. An electric comb is best used to remove lice from a child. It has much fewer teeth than the classic version. However, this is compensated by high efficiency. Under the influence of impulses, the parasites die, after which they can be safely washed away with water.
Incubation period, time frame and how long does it take for lice to emerge from nits?
How long does it take for lice to emerge from nits? The incubation period of nits in humans takes longer than the development period of adults and is approximately 7 days. Nits are eggs (you will learn how long it takes for lice eggs to hatch) that are laid by lice. They look like small grains of light, almost white color.
At one time, an adult creature can lay 4-5 parasites. Lice attach cocoons closer to the hair roots using an adhesive composition. This fact makes treatment difficult, because it is extremely difficult to select all the nits. Read more about treating nits with vinegar at home in our article. And if you have long hair, use our combing instructions.
How many days does it take for a nit to mature? The incubation period of the parasite from egg to adult organism is from 16 to 30 days. The speed of development and when nits hatch, as mentioned above, is affected by temperature. From birth to the end of life, lice go through 4 stages of development:
- egg;
- larva;
- nymph of the first and second order;
- mature individual.
Stages of development from larva to adult:
- mature larvae develop in one day and turn into a first-order nymph at an ambient temperature of 30 degrees. The lower the air temperature, the longer the incubation period of the offspring will last. For example, at 10 degrees the transformation can last up to 10 days. Nymphs of the first order are similar to full-fledged adult representatives, differing only in their small size, as well as the underdevelopment of the genital organs;
- nymphs of the first order undergo molting in 5 days and turn into representatives of the second order;
- The second-order nymph matures in 8 days. At this stage, the louse turns into an adult organism capable of fertilization (adult stage).
On our website you can learn more about the types of lice and how to get rid of their eggs. Lice multiply rapidly. How many days does it take for lice to emerge from nits? A month after the first individual enters, the colony of lice will be numerous, which will bring a lot of discomfort to the infected person. Mating of a newly-made individual can occur only after the first louse bite. Already two days after this, the parasite will lay the first batch of nits.
After the larvae are born, bites occur within the first few hours. The larvae, as well as all subsequent stages of transformation to an adult creature, feed on human blood every 3-4 hours. They don't go long without food. Firstly, because the power source is always nearby; secondly, they can live only a few days without food.
Now you know how many days it takes for lice to hatch from nits, next we will consider the question of what a hatched louse looks like.
Can lice live on animals?
There are several types of lice in animals:
- Sucking louse - feeds exclusively on blood;
- Biting louse - feeds on skin particles.
Cats can be infested with lice. For many, this reality was astonishing. But it is so. Lice, or they are also called lice-eaters, live on animals in the fur and feed not on its blood, but on the skin. Therefore, one of the symptoms of infection will be bald patches or lack of hair on parts of the body.
Dogs are also susceptible to this disease. Parasites cling to hairs and attach to the skin. They feed on the blood, sebaceous glands and skin of the victim. The pet suffers from itching and loses its fur.
Pediculosis can cause more serious illnesses. Such as wasting or tapeworm. Therefore, animals need urgent treatment.
Can you get lice from contact with animals? No! The lifestyle of these parasites is significantly different. They are adapted to higher body temperatures than humans.
Frequently asked questions from our readers
Expert opinion
Alexandra Valerievna
Doctor-Trichologist
If nits click, does that mean they are alive?
Living nits, when pressed with your fingers or nails, make a characteristic click, as if a soap bubble is bursting. The sound of this click is quite loud and strong. If the nit is dead, then it will not make any sound, no matter how hard you press and squeeze it. If it makes any sound, it means that it is still alive and it is necessary to take repeated measures to remove them.
How not to confuse nits with regular dandruff?
The most popular method is visual analysis of the “crumbs” that you have discovered. The skin scale, unlike the nit shell, is less dense to the touch and it does not separate, while the egg is dense and clicks when you press it. Nits are also distinguished by their excessive yellowness from ordinary dandruff.
Is there a risk of getting lice and nits again?
There is, of course, such a risk, since even if you try to maintain a certain good level of hygiene, do not use shared objects and do not swim in public places, a carrier person with whom you have had close contact and whose lice really liked you.
Basic ways to combat head lice
Among the people, before the advent of modern medicine, the prevention of pediculosis was carried out by shaving the hair to zero; in our time, cutting one's head is also sometimes practiced, but thanks to modern medicine, the main ways to combat pediculosis are:
Pharmacy products
Of all the pharmaceutical drugs, the most suitable, effective and safe means are Medifox and Paranit. These two drugs do not contain harmful chemicals; they gently remove parasites from their location, without side effects. Also, these two drugs are perfect for children, since they have minimal toxicity and, consider, almost no side effects. Also, tablets are used to get rid of head lice. After the human carrier begins to take the pills, the lice, having sucked on the blood, die.
Shampoos
Shampoo can also be used as a means to combat lice and nits, but most often it is used after the destruction of parasites, as a preventive measure and to remove the shells of dead pests from the wearer’s head. A good example would be Pedilin. This shampoo can be used by both children and adults without worrying that it will harm them in any way. A course of treatment for head lice with shampoo lasts at least three days to completely eliminate the likelihood of recurrence of the disease. When washing your hair, you need to place a disposable towel or napkin on your shoulders and then dispose of them.
Sprays
Another effective remedy against lice and nits can be a spray, for example, Nyuda or Para Plus. These sprays are suitable for both adults and children, as they do not contain toxic substances that could harm health or cause side effects on the body.
Scallop
The comb is more suitable for removing already killed parasites from the hair of a human carrier, but it is also sometimes used to remove still living individuals from the scalp. Most often, the comb is sold complete with a preparation against lice and nits. Initially, an anti-parasitic agent is applied, which will kill all lice and nits, or at least most of them, and then they are removed from the hair with a comb. If you do not remove the dry shells remaining from nits and lice from your hair, a burning sensation on the scalp may occur and scabies (itching) may begin, since the shells of the parasites are somewhat toxic and release their poison.
Folk remedies
You can get rid of parasites using folk remedies, but this will not be as effective as medical means, and lice and nits will not be removed from the human carrier in one procedure. There are a variety of folk remedies for lice and nits. Some people shave their heads when parasites appear, others prefer to use kerosene, tar and laundry soap, vinegar or lemon juice and much more, using home remedies and treatment methods, it is worth remembering that some of them can cause an allergic reaction or a chemical burn (kerosene , vinegar, dichlorvos).
REFERENCE! It is worth giving preference to medical products that will be more effective in treating head lice.
Distribution routes
Head lice are predominantly found in children and adults with long hair. They are transmitted through personal hygiene products, such as combs or hair ties.
Parasites can appear even in clean people who live in good conditions. They are caused by close contact with an infected person. Parasites pass from the “host” during games, sexual intercourse, wrestling, and accidental touching of the head.
Where do head lice in children come from? In children's groups, the spread of these insects occurs at lightning speed. They can be transmitted to healthy babies through shared towels or pillows, when bathing in the bathtub or wearing other people's hats. Therefore, a high risk of infection is observed in gardens and schools, swimming pools, hotels, and trains.
Symptoms and causes
There are several varieties of lice depending on where they live: head lice, body lice, and pubic lice.
Head lice are thought to be most common in children. For this reason, in educational institutions students are constantly checked for the presence of nits.
Girls are more likely to get parasites than boys, possibly due to long hair. However, the last 10 years of research in this area have proven the opposite situation.
Nits (lice larvae) easily attach to human hair, and this has nothing to do with hygiene.
Video:
Even the cleanest and most well-groomed people can become infected with parasites due to contact with an already sick person.
According to statistics, in Russia, lice are found in 300–700 people for every hundred thousand people, and only 15% of them are children.
These parasites cannot live without food for a long time, so they constantly need human blood. A hungry parasite is gray-brown in color, while full lice are black or red.
Lice larvae are called nits. They are oval in shape, pale yellow in color and about 1 mm long. After about 5 to 8 days, lice emerge from the nits.
Parasites live on a person’s head and constantly need food, since they cannot live without blood even for one day. You can see what lice look like in the photo below.
For the first two weeks after lice appear on the head, the owner may not be aware of their existence.
After which itching of the skin and irritation from parasite bites appear. At first, the symptom manifests itself in a milder form, after which the itching intensifies and can become unbearable for the person.
If the disease becomes chronic, the patient scratches his head out of habit, even if he does not actually experience itching.
As a result, acute dermatitis develops, small red papules appear, and skin damage from scratching is possible.
After some time, a person may develop anemia, a secondary infection, strands will begin to stick together, and there may even be a smell of rot (in an advanced form of the disease).
The causes of lice are usually associated with close contact with a carrier of the disease, since the parasites themselves cannot fly or jump long distances.
This explains the frequent appearance of lice in children, who often change clothes, hats, and use other people's combs or towels.
In addition, they are the ones who come into contact with a large number of people more often than adults (at school, kindergarten, health camps, in the yard).
It is very difficult to explain to a small child that you cannot try on other people’s hats, especially when the child is far from his parents.
Adults can become infected with head lice in trains, swimming pools, medical facilities, public baths or hair salons.
Video:
To avoid infection and the need for long-term treatment, you can treat certain areas around the scalp (neck, forehead, behind the ears) with lavender or tea tree essential oils.
Also, carefully monitor your things, wash them more often, iron every seam, do not use other people’s combs and do not give yours to anyone, and under no circumstances try on other people’s hats.
When parasites appear, it is necessary to disinfect items of clothing, linen, hats, toys, towels (all things on which lice or nits could remain).
During this time, living parasites will die, as well as those that hatch from nits, since without human blood these parasites will not be able to survive.
If you need to determine the presence of the disease at home, you can comb your hair by tilting your head over a light towel.
If larvae or live parasites are found, it would be advisable to consult a doctor who will prescribe treatment.
Read about how long the incubation period of parasites lasts in the next section.
Can a head louse survive outside of humans?
There is only one answer to the question of where lice (head lice) live: humans are the only creature on which these parasites can live. Sometimes they settle on some species of monkeys, but they feel uncomfortable there.
How long do lice live outside the head? Situations may occur when, for some reason, the parasite is separated from its “carrier” (it is combed out, remains on personal hygiene items, etc.). Thus, if the louse does not have the opportunity to return to the human head as soon as possible, it will be left without food. This is enough to last another 1-3 days, and that’s all how long lice live outside a person, after which they die of starvation.
Interesting! Lice spend their entire life cycle - from egg to death - on humans, and as long as a louse lives, it feeds on human blood. Without food, the parasite will not last long.
Regarding the survival of parasites outside their usual environment or where lice live other than the head, there are a number of frequently asked questions:
- Is it possible for lice to live without a person, for example, on another animal? The head louse is not capable of living anywhere in nature except on the human head (except for rare cases with monkeys, which have already been mentioned). Therefore, it is impossible to infect your pets with these bloodsuckers or become infected from them yourself.
- How long do lice live on clothes? It happens that a combed louse ends up outside the head, for example, on clothing, where its lifespan will also average 2 days. But to a greater extent, this question applies to body lice, which live on clothes (in seams and folds), “visiting” the human body for food.
- Can lice live in pillows? To live is not, but to exist for a few hours is quite possible. Lice can end up on a pillow if they crawl onto it from the head of an infected person. Having remained there, the parasites will hold out for some time, waiting for the person’s head to fall back onto the pillow, after which they will return “to their homeland.” Therefore, to the question of whether lice live in bed linen in general and on pillows in particular, there is only one answer: even body bloodsuckers, not to mention head lice, are incapable of this, due to the periodic long absence of a person in bed.
- Do lice live on colored hair? Modern hair dyes often contain hydrogen peroxide, which is already toxic to lice. Many individuals may die, however, a sufficient number of individuals (especially nits) will remain alive, so hair coloring cannot be called widespread bullying. The surviving parasites will continue to actively reproduce, and the pointlessness of destroying them in this way will be obvious.
