Body louse - photo, bites, remedy, treatment, how to get rid of it at home?

What kind of parasite is a body louse?

Lice are divided into 3 types:

pubic;
head;
wardrobe

What all types of lice have in common is rapid reproduction. At the same time, they create discomfort for the infected person and are carriers of infections.

The linen louse is small in size with a thickening in the center of the body. The length of an adult is 3-5 mm . The color is light gray or light yellow. There are no wings - this prevents them from moving long distances. The larvae of linen or body lice resemble adult individuals, only of a miniature size of 1-2 mm. Full development occurs after 3 moults have passed.

The optimal reproduction process occurs at high temperatures up to 30˚ C. Low temperatures (15˚ C) have a negative effect on reproduction and growth. The killing temperature for insects is plus 60˚ C and below minus 13.

The lifespan of males is up to 30 days. Whereas females exist for 45 days. During this period, one female lays 140 nits . As soon as the larvae emerge from the egg, they begin to suck blood once a day. At the same time, the first molt occurs, the second - after 5 days, the third - after 8.

The complete growth cycle from egg to subsequent reproduction is 16 days. The process of reproduction is repeated again. Two months are enough to increase the size of the colony several hundred times . Therefore, it is necessary to begin the fight against parasites in a timely manner.

Photo

Where do linen lice come from?

If body lice were found in the house, do not think that this was due to poor cleaning in the house. Parasites can be brought into your home from the following places:

clothing store;
hotel;
tourist trips;
public transport and crowded places;
going to visit.

Not everyone knows that the body louse is such a hardy parasite that it can live without its usual environment for 2-3 days. Finding themselves in favorable conditions, insects begin to multiply intensively and in a short period of time they are able to lay about 300 eggs.

What is body lice?

The difference between body lice and other diseases is that lice do not live on the body, but hide in the seams of clothing. Although, without humans they do not exist. After all, they feed exclusively on the blood of the owner. Insects suck on it 4 times a day.

It is at the moment of hunger that parasites leave their home and move onto the body. Having had enough, they crawl back into clothes or bedding. The appearance of a well-fed parasite is very similar to a flea. Since the abdomen becomes burgundy in color, but they do not know how to jump, but crawl slowly.

Outbreaks of linen lice mark times during military operations. During this period, people are not able to properly monitor their body hygiene, and clothes are changed at the wrong time. IDPs who have to live in tents with a large number of people are also susceptible to this disease.

Revealing

You don’t have to rack your brains for a long time about how to detect body lice. It is necessary to carefully examine the bedding, things that the patient has worn for a month, and underwear.

Body lice develops outside the human body. Lice form nests in folds, seams, under the mattress, as well as in toys and furnishings with a fleecy surface.

On a note!
Lice on clothes in large numbers are clearly visible to the naked eye, but during search work it is better to use a magnifying glass or magnifying glass.

In one place there are adults, nymphs of different generations, eggs, and excrement. This is what a body lice nest looks like. Once parasites are detected, immediate action must be taken.

Body lice bites

Linen lice affect the part of the body where there is no hair:

groin;
stomach;
axillary areas;
shoulders;
neck;
buttocks;
small of the back;
breast;
upper back;
waist.

Bite symptoms:

the appearance of bluish spots on the body;
headache;
nausea;
nervousness;
itching near the bitten area;
elevated temperature;
intestinal disorder;
allergy;
pustules;
healing of the bite after 4 days.

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How dangerous is a body louse?

The fight against parasites should begin from the moment the bite is noticed. If this is not done, the wounds turn into pustules at the first stage, and the next stage is boils and ulcers. Subsequently, scars remain on the body.

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By biting through the skin during a bite, the parasite injects an anesthetic secretion that prevents blood clotting. The bites are accompanied by severe itching , and in a dream a person scratches the wounds, which causes them to bleed. Severe damage causes excoriation. Regular bites cause roughening and thickening of the skin, and its color changes - yellow-brown.

The main danger from a bitten parasite lies in the transmission of infections:

quintan;
relapsing fever;
typhus.

There are cases when pyoderma develops. You can read more about this disease in the article on photos, treatment and symptoms of pyoderma.

Acid and phytoncides

How to remove lice using folk remedies? Acids and phytoncides are also used for this. These products provide quick and effective results:

Cranberry juice. The acid found in the berries can dissolve the “glue” with which nits cling to hairs. The juice is saturated with components that have a negative effect on insects. Berries (2 handfuls) must be mixed with natural honey so that the product is enough for one procedure. Sessions are repeated for several days until the nits disappear. Immobilized parasites need to be combed out.

Mint and pomegranate. This is another effective way to remove lice and nits. This method not only removes bloodsuckers, but also heals the scalp: the hair becomes soft, dandruff disappears. Add a handful of fresh mint to the squeezed pomegranate juice (250 ml). Bring the mixture to a boil over low heat, immediately remove from heat, strain and let cool. The solution should be applied to the head and wrapped in film. The duration of the procedure is 5-8 hours. Then wash your hair and comb out the parasites.

Lemon juice. It is used in the same way as cranberry juice, but due to its greater “wateriness” it will be less effective.

Garlic and onion juice. If the sharp aroma of these vegetables does not bother you, then you need to smear your hair with this composition and leave it for several hours, wrapping it in film. The composition is capable of liquefying the nit shell and killing adult parasites. After washing your hair, you can comb out insects. Using this method, you need to monitor the reaction of the scalp. If allergic reactions occur, wash off the solution immediately.

Black cumin. This is another way to remove lice and nits using folk remedies. Crushed seeds should be added to apple cider vinegar to obtain a paste, which should be applied to the head. Then you need to go outside for 30 minutes so that your hair gets direct sunlight. Such procedures are performed for several days in a row. After each session, combing is carried out.

How to get rid of body lice at home?

In the case of linen parasites, it will take much more time than with head seams. Here you won’t limit yourself to just washing your hair with chemicals.

Algorithm of actions:

take a bath with hot water;
use tar soap for the body and for foam in the bath;
stay in the hottest water for 15 minutes;
Treat bite wounds with any alcohol lotion;
bed linen and cotton clothes are washed at high temperatures with the addition of Permethrin or Karbofos. Permethrin is also used to get rid of scabies mites. How to cure scabies and what medications are used, see here.
then dried, ironed on both sides;
Dry blankets and mattresses in the sun or place them in plastic bags for several days and spray the chemical inside;
Carefully iron clothes on both sides, pay attention to seams, collars, pockets, where they are most likely to be found;
treat carpets and rugs with chemicals and ventilate them;
wash the floors in the room with chemicals, since insects under good conditions can survive and crawl back onto clothes.

Garment processing

All clothing is subject to heat treatment:

Wash cotton clothes in a machine, and the temperature should be maximum;
dry in the sun and iron on both sides. The sun's rays will kill not only lice, but also their larvae;

Treat items not intended for high-temperature washing:

in dry cleaning or at home with insecticides;
ferry. To do this, switch the iron regulator to the “steaming” mode and run it over outerwear, fur hats and fur coats;
in the freezer, in the cold. After freezing, dry in the sun.
prepare the mixture: twenty percent soap, kerosene. Leave items in the solution for 20 minutes, then wash in cool water. One caveat, the smell does not dissipate well;

Remedies for body lice

Chemicals are used for things that are not intended to be processed at high temperatures and are large (mattresses, blankets, rugs, bedspreads).

So, you can use the following tools:

Medifox product.
drug "A-PAR";
"Pedilin";
"NOK";
Pyrethrum powder is added to a sealed package with laundry for 2 hours;
"Lauri";
"Veda-2";
"Buzzed."

After treatment, clothes and large items are ventilated and dried.

Folk remedies:

the fern houseplant repels bloodsuckers;
tansy, vinegar - added to water when rinsing, after processing;
cranberry juice to remove nits;
Euphorbia - placed in closets with clothes.

Preventive measures

To avoid encounters with such unpleasant insects as body louse, you should strictly observe personal hygiene. This especially applies to those places where the danger is great - hotels, sanatoriums, trains, etc. Under no circumstances should you use someone else's underwear, clothes or towel, even if it is your best friend. After visiting dubious and dirty places, you should bathe in hot water and soap and wash all clothes at maximum temperature.

When choosing clothes, you should remember that linen parasites do not like synergistic and silk fabrics, and choose cotton products for their habitat.

Body louse loves the smell of perfume, but such strong smells as tansy or kerosene frighten them very much. Therefore, when leaving home, it is better to always have a bag of dried tansy grass with you.

Bedding (mattresses, pillows, blankets) must be exposed to severe frost in winter or open sun in summer.

And finally, it must be said that even in the most difficult situations, with the right means of protection, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from such a nasty parasite as the body louse.

Treatment for body lice bites

Bites from bloodsuckers must be treated with alcohol-based products:

balm “Rescuer”;
alcohol lotion, cologne;
"Star" ointment.

The bite may cause an allergic reaction in some people.

In this case, symptomatic treatment should be used:

antihistamines (“Tavegil”, “Suprastin”);
painkillers (“Phenobarbital”, “Nurofen”);
headache remedies;
decongestants.

Mechanical method

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How to remove lice from long hair? For this, a mechanical method can be used, which is also considered cheap. You don't need to use any medications with it. All you need is patience and:

thick comb;
lamp;
magnifying glass

If you are interested in how to remove lice and nits from a child, then you should use this method. Parents should be prepared to calm their child. For example, turning on your favorite cartoon will help. The shorter the hair and the earlier the problem is identified, the easier it will be to fix it. The procedure is performed according to the following instructions:

First you need to wash your hair with shampoo. The lice will be "sleepy" for some time.

Then you need to secure your hair with an elastic band. You can separate one strand at a time and comb from roots to ends.

Clean strands are collected with a separate hair clip. After each strand, lice and nits should be washed off the comb.

It is advisable to do this under running water, pushing the teeth of the comb apart with your fingers.

A towel is placed over the child's shoulders to prevent lice from getting on clothes. The combing procedure should be done in the bathroom to make it easier to wash the parasites down the drain. In just 1 day at home, you can completely eliminate lice and nits if you do everything according to the instructions, sort through the hairs and comb out the nits.

A magnifying glass is useful to speed up the process, since nits are clearly visible with a magnifying glass. After a couple of weeks, the head should be examined again. In this case, you should not allow at least one nit to be on the hair.

Prevention

Getting rid of body lice is quite difficult, so you need to take preventive measures:

observe good hygiene and wash at least twice a week;
change underwear completely from all parts of the body;
wash and iron clothes;
to be treated for insect bites;
do not appear in places where you can become infected;
do not come into contact with unkempt people;
do not spend the night in dubious places;
do not put on clothes from the other “shoulder”;
items purchased secondhand should be subjected to heat treatment;
use personal hygiene products;
teach children the rules of sanitation and hygiene;
when handing out damp linen on the train, ask for replacement;
use preventative agents: lavender and tea tree oil.

How to avoid infection?

Preventing body lice from occurring won't be difficult if you know how it spreads and what needs to be done to prevent it from happening. For example:

Lice can spread to another person as a result of close contact, and for quite a long time. Lice are capable of moving at a speed of 20 cm per minute, so quick contact does not threaten infection, since the parasite will not have time to move to another victim.
Infestation with body lice can occur in crowded places. For example, this could be public transport, when people come into contact with each other for a long time and this time is enough for lice to move to another person.
Preschool institutions and schools, especially junior grades, are also not an exception. As a rule, children are in contact with each other, regardless of the appearance of children or classmates.
Such breeding grounds include spontaneous markets (flea markets), where used clothing is offered. Such clothing must be treated appropriately immediately.

If you know how these parasites spread, you can protect yourself from them by staying away from groups of people. Of course, in some cases it is simply impossible to do this, for example, during rush hour, but then you need to inspect your clothes upon arrival home. When entering an apartment, it is better to shake it off on the landing.