Pediculosis in children: what are the most effective treatments for treatment

Causes

There is an opinion that pediculosis occurs most often in children from disadvantaged families with low social status, where there are no basic conditions for personal hygiene. But this is not true; any child can become infected with head lice. Most often, infection occurs in kindergartens or schools, as well as in holiday camps and in hospital settings for inpatient treatment of children. Lice crawl from a sick child to a healthy one and begin to actively multiply. Females lay eggs called nits, which look like white balls at the base of the hair (about a centimeter from the root of the hair). They can be confused with dandruff, but nits cannot simply be shaken off; they are firmly glued to the hair.

The main routes of transmission of the disease:

directly from an already infected person or another child;
infection through other people's combs, hairpins, hats, ribbons;
when using shared bed linen or towels;
in public transport through head restraints.

Girls with long, loose hair are more likely to get lice, so it is better to wear their hair in braids.

Examination of a child for pediculosis

Vinegar

The main disadvantage of this method is that vinegar does not kill adult lice. It simply lacks the properties to do this. However, the acid in vinegar can kill nymphs, young fish that are not yet able to lay eggs. Therefore, the anti-pediculosis effectiveness of vinegar is a controversial issue. However, vinegar does help in the fight against nits. Acetic acid does not dissolve the exoskeleton (the protective shell of nits), and therefore does not kill them. However, it weakens the glue that holds nits on the hair shaft and makes them easier to remove mechanically. To treat with 9% vinegar, it must be mixed with water in a ratio of 1:2, applied to hair, covered with film and left for 30 minutes.

Symptoms of childhood lice

Pediculosis is not difficult to recognize. The main symptoms of infection appear in children as follows:

severe itching of the head appears as a result of lice bites. The child often scratches his head, especially hard behind the ears, where the skin is thinnest;
red bite marks are visible under the hair, the skin is inflamed and irritated;
You can see nits on the hair. One adult female louse lays about 10 eggs per day;
in advanced forms of the disease, the lymph nodes behind the ears become inflamed.

Kerosene

This remedy has been used for a long time and, indeed, has a pronounced anti-pediculosis effect. Kerosene is mixed with vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:10. For this purpose, you can use olive, sunflower or corn oil. The resulting mixture is evenly applied to the hair using a cotton swab, the head is covered with film and the product is left for 15 minutes. Before removing lice from a child using this method, keep in mind that kerosene is a toxic and flammable substance. Therefore, this recipe cannot be called safe.

Treatment of pediculosis in children

Nowadays, pharmacies sell many different effective remedies for head lice for children in the form of shampoos, lotions or sprays.

So how to treat pediculosis in children? The main thing is that the treatment must be combined; it is necessary to destroy not only adult insects, but also their eggs. You can choose the tool that is most convenient for use. The main active ingredient against adult lice, which is part of most drugs, is permethrin. These are new generation drugs that are toxic to insects and harmless to humans. To achieve the desired result, you must strictly follow the instructions and pay attention to the age at which you are allowed to use this or that product.

After treating the head with medications, it is necessary to comb out all nits from the hair using a fine comb, since the poison does not affect them. To facilitate this process, it is recommended to moisten the comb in a heated solution of acetic acid. To prevent relapse of head lice, you should be patient and try to remove all nits the first time.

Traditional medicine offers its own recipes for the treatment of pediculosis in children . It is recommended to treat the scalp with kerosene, vinegar, tar soap, and cranberry juice. Any of the listed products is applied to the scalp and hair for 40 minutes, covered with plastic wrap, and then washed thoroughly.

How to remove lice

• Home remedies. There are many recipes for treating head lice at home. These include: kerosene, vinegar, essential oils, etc. If you choose this treatment method, you must be prepared for the fact that the fight against parasites will take some time.
• Pharmacy drugs With the development of medicine, a large number of effective anti-pediculosis drugs have appeared. Their only drawback is that lice develop resistance (become resistant) to insecticide-based preparations
• Mechanical method. Probably the oldest way to fight head lice. It consists of regularly combing adults and removing nits.

Prevention

To prevent head lice in children, the following measures should be taken:

prohibit wearing other people's hats or hair clips;
teach your child to maintain personal hygiene;
explain to him that he should have his own comb.

Preventive examination of children for pediculosis
After a child arrives home from a camp or sanatorium, a preventive examination for pediculosis of his head should be carried out. If lice or nits are found, you should immediately begin removing them and take preventive measures for members of the entire family.

How to quickly remove lice?

The main mistake that parents make when treating lice is the incorrect use of pharmaceutical products. When treating, be sure to take into account the life cycle of parasites. Most pediculicides do not penetrate the well-protected shell of nits, so treatment must be repeated after 7-10 days, when nymphs hatch from the nits.

Many parents, desperate to cope with lice, spend a lot of effort cleaning the house, suspecting that the child is re-infected with lice through household items. Meanwhile, parasitologists say the fight should be focused on the baby's head, not the environment

A 2010 study published in the journal Open Dermatology found that the risk of transmission from combs, hats and toys is very low. Scientists tested students who had a total of more than 5,500 head lice. However, no parasites were found on their hats. The same goes for floors: When researchers checked the floors of 118 classrooms in a school with a head lice outbreak, no lice were found on them.

PRODUCTS FOR DESTROYING PYRETHROID-RESISTANT HEAD AND PUBIC LICE

Polydimethylsiloxanes

pediculicide "HEDRIN" 77.99.1.2.U.4547.6.10 dated 06/29/2010 dimethicone - 4% "Thornton and Ross Ltd.", "Thornton and Ross Ireland Ltd." (Great Britain)
pediculicidal agent “D-95” of the trademark “911 Your Rescue Service” RU.77.99.88.002.E.002023.04.17 dated 04/27/2017 dimethicone 87.7%; CJSC "TWINS Tech", (Russian Federation)
pediculicidal agent "Nyuda®" RU.77.99.88.002.E.012895.12.14 dated 12/29/2014 dimethicone 92%, Germany
pediculicidal agent "Paranit® Sensitive" (Paranit® Sensitive) RU.77.99.88.002.E.004749.06.14 dated 06.20.2014 oxyphthyrin complex, including dimethicone -4% "Cefaro Ireland Limited", (Ireland) and "Megenix Benelux" » (Belgium) «Laboratories Wilson» (France)
pediculicidal product “Hedrin Once (Hedrin Vance)” in two forms Liquid Gel (liquid gel), Spray Gel (spray gel) RU.77.99.88.002.E.010406.11.15 dated November 26, 2015 dimethicone, 4%, nerolidol, 2% ; "Thornton & Ross Ltd", (UK)
pediculicidal agent “Full Marks” (“Full Marks”), RU.77.99.88.002.E.000357.01.18 dated 01/26/2018 isopropyl myristate -50%, cyclomethicone 50% “Reckit Benckiser Healthcare” (UK)
pediculicidal agent “Nitolic” (“Nitolic”), RU.77.99.88.002.E.000462.02.18 dated 02/01/2018 isopropyl myristate -72.5%, “ICB Pharma” (Poland)
pediculicidal agent - “Clean Life” RU.77.99.88.002.E.005564.07.13 from 07/08/2013 polydimethylsiloxanes, 47%; LLC "NPO "VELT", (Russian Federation)
pediculicidal product "Duranit anti-pediculosis lotion for hair" RU.77.99.88.002.E.005135.06.13 from 06.28.2013 dimethicone - 6%, cyclopentaxyloxane - 94%, "Drog Ekza Tibbi Malzeme" (Turkey)
pediculicide "PARADISE ULTRA" RU.77.99.88.002.E.002037.05.18 dated 05/21/2018 dimethicone, 4%, isoparaffins, 96%, Mirrolla LLC, (Russian Federation)

Mineral oils

pediculicidal agent “Shampoo “Deparazin® Ultra” RU.77.99.88.002.E.000369.01.16 from 01/28/2016 petroleum jelly, 56.5%; BIOPHARMRUS LLC, (Russian Federation)
pediculicidal product “Shampoo “Pedikulen Ultra” RU.77.99.88.002.E.008118.09.14 from 09.19.2014 petroleum jelly - 55%; BIOPHARMUS LLC, (Russian Federation)
pediculicidal product Paranit® Shampoo (Paranit® Shampoo) RU.77.99.88.002.E.012487.12.14 dated 12/22/2014 clearol (mineral oil) - 69.25%; Chefaro Ireland Limited, (Ireland) Chefaro Ireland Limited, Ireland (Ireland) and Megenix Benelux (Belgium) Bittner Pharma LLC, (Russian Federation)
pediculicidal product Paranit® Lotion (“Paranit® Lotion”) RU.77.99.88.002.E.012486.12.14 dated December 22, 2014 isopar (mineral oil) - 96%, dimethicone - 4%, Chefaro Ireland Limited, (Ireland) Chefaro Ireland Limited, Ireland (Ireland) and Megenix Benelux (Belgium) Bittner Pharma LLC, (Russian Federation)
pediculicidal product Paranit® Spray (“Paranit® Spray”) RU.77.99.88.002.E.012485.12.14 dated December 22, 2014 isopar (mineral oil) - 96%, dimethicone - 4%, Megenix Benelux (Belgium) LLC " Bittner Pharma", (Russian Federation)

Benzyl benzoate

pediculicidal agent "Foxilon spray" RU.77.99.21.002.E.011175.07.12 dated 07/05/2012 benzyl benzoate, 20% NPC "FOX & Co" LLC, (Russian Federation)
pediculicidal agent "Foxilon lotion" RU.77.99.01.002.E.027606.07.11 dated 07/18/2011 benzyl benzoate, 20% Scientific-Production LLC, (Russian Federation)

Neem oil

pediculicidal product "Leisner" RU.77.99.88.002.E.001143.03.17 from 03/09/2017 neem oil 10%, "Pronova Laboratories BiVi", (Netherlands)

Essential oils

pediculicidal agent “Paranit” RU.77.99.27.002.E.043822.10.11 dated 10/20/2011 anise oil (in terms of trans-anethole), 15%, “Teva Pharmaceutical Industries”, (Israel)
insecticidal agent "MEDILIS-bio for lice" RU.77.99.37.002.E.002102.02.11 dated 02/09/2011 clove oil - 10% LLC "Laboratory MediLIS", (Russian Federation)
pediculicidal product "Pedikulen® Ultra" RU.77.99.88.002.E.007718.08.13 dated 08/27/2013 anise oil - 6 LLC "BIOPHARMUS", % (Russian Federation)

Alcohols

pediculicidal product "Hedrin Treat & Go" in three forms Lotion (lotion), Spray (spray), Mousse (mousse) RU.77.99.88.002.E.010405.11.15 dated November 26, 2015 1.2 octanediol , 5%, caprylic/capric glycerides (PEG 6) 15%; Thornton & Ross Ltd. (Great Britain)

Organophosphorus compounds

insectoacaricidal agent "Sulfox" RU.77.99.21.002.E.012445.08.12 dated 08/10/2012 fenthion 20% k.e. LLC NPC "FOX & Co", (Russian Federation)
insectoacaricidal agent “Dobrokhim FOS” RU.77.99.88.002.E.006398.08.13 dated 08/05/2013, fenthion 20% e.e. LLC "Dobrokhim", (Russian Federation)
insectoacaricidal agent "Medilis-super" RU.77.99.88.002.E.017368.12.12 dated 12/25/2012 24% e.e. water-based fenthion LLC "Laboratory MediLIS", (Russian Federation)
insectoacaricidal agent Medilis-Permifen" RU.77.99.88.002.E.008546.10.13 dated 10.23.2013 20% e.e. (fenthion - 16%, permethrin - 4%) LLC "Laboratory MediLIS", (Russian Federation)
insecticidal agent "Forsyth - anti-louse" RU.77.99.21.002.E.012959.08.12 dated 08.28.2012 10% q.e. mixtures of fenthion and permethrin. (fenthion - 7%, permethrin - 3%) Alina Nova Prof LLC, (Russian Federation)
insectoacaricidal agent “Clinch” 77.99.23.2.U.341.1.10 dated 01/26/2010 mixture of fenthion and permethrin 20% a.e. (fenthion - 7%, permethrin - 13%) Dobrokhim LLC, (Russian Federation)
insectoacaricidal agent "Medilis - Malathion" RU.77.99.88.002.E.005275.06.13 dated 06.28.2013 40% e.e., malathion LLC "Laboratory MediLIS", (Russian Federation)
insectoacaricidal agent “Dobrokhim M” RU.77.99.88.002.E.000104.01.14 dated 01/15/2014 malathion 57% ke., Dobrokhim LLC, (Russian Federation)
pediculicidal product “Veltotrin Lotion” RU.77.99.19.002.E.006964.04.12 dated 04/23/2012 permethrin, 1%, malathion, 0.3%; LLC "NPO "VELT", (Russian Federation)

Appendix 2

Kinds

Now you can find several types of this drug, with the common name Dichlorvos. Here are their varieties:

Dichlorvos Neo. The main active substance in its composition is cypermethrin. A distinctive feature of this species is the complete absence of odor. Thanks to its specially selected composition, it has a powerful and almost instantaneous effect.

Dichlorvos Eco. In this option, the active substances are pyrethrin and a combination of various insecticides. To make it more comfortable to use, aromatic additives are also included, in this case the scent of lavender.

Dichlorvos Universal. Helps get rid of many types of parasites, not just lice. In addition to a wide spectrum of action, it has very strong effectiveness. Disadvantages include an unpleasant odor.

Dichlorvos Varan. Almost identical to the previous options. Only the scent of lemon was used as a fragrance.

Dichlorvos Terminator. The principle of action of this drug is the paralyzing effect on insects of two main components: cypermethrin and tetramethrin. But for the consumer, in practical application, the differences are invisible.

In stores you can also find products from foreign companies. In terms of effectiveness and composition, it is identical to Russian drugs. A special feature can be considered the widespread use of perfumed additives.

We recommend reading: symptoms and signs of head lice in humans.

General information

Dichlorvos today is fundamentally different from the one that people remember from the Soviet era. Actually, from that option, the manufacturers, using a publicity stunt, left only the name that everyone remembered.

Dichlorvos actively helps remove many insects, such as fleas, bedbugs, cockroaches, and lice. This article discusses the effectiveness of this drug against head lice and nits.

The current Dichlorvos bottle is filled with completely different, more advanced, sometimes flavored substances. But they are all a combination of synthetic (artificially created) insecticides and are considered harmless to humans.

Precautionary measures

Due to the non-zero toxicity of dichlorvos to humans, it is important to take precautions when treating hair for lice. They are quite simple, follow the recommendations:

• wear rubber gloves;
• protect your eyes with special glasses;
• use a respirator;
• do not touch your face with your hands;
• refrain from eating during treatment
• work in a ventilated room;
• hide food from the aerosol.

When finished, remove gloves and wash your hands and face with soap. Be especially vigilant if the procedure involves a child. Children are more susceptible to poison, since a lower concentration is needed to poison them. If possible, carry out the procedure outside or on the balcony.

How to protect yourself from lice infestation?

The main method of prevention is to avoid close contact with the head of an infected person. This is difficult to explain to a small child. But teenagers need to understand this simple rule, especially since recent head lice outbreaks around the world have been linked to the habit of taking selfies with children's heads touching. You should also teach your child not to use other people's combs, even though the likelihood of lice being transmitted this way is extremely low.

As a preventive measure, you can use essential oils, especially geranium oil, the smell of which repels lice. You can add a few drops of this oil to your shampoo. Girls with long hair can apply a few drops of oil directly to their hair.

Is it possible to remove lice in 1 day?

Unfortunately, you can only get rid of lice in 1 day using a very radical method - shaving your head. However, before resorting to it, consider the following points:

• You cannot bring a child with lice to the hairdresser. And shaving your head yourself can lead to cuts and infection.
• Shaving can upset the child and mean temporary isolation. Many children are very embarrassed by such a radical hairstyle, as well as the reason why their parents resort to it.
• For girls, a shaved head remains a social taboo.
• In order to be sure to get rid of lice, you will need to completely shave your hair. Parasites cling to even the shortest hairs, so cutting with a clipper will not be enough