Information on Head Lice (pediculosis)

More information on Head lice (Pediculosis)

The human head louse (‘pediculus humanus capitis’) affects around 20 million people worldwide each year. A head louse infestation (‘pediculosis’) is not a sign of bad hygiene or poor parenting. It just means your child has had head-to-head contact with someone with head lice.

A head louse infestation is sometimes referred to as ‘pediculosis’.

Head lice are tiny (2-4mm long) wingless brown hair parasites that live in the hair and on the head of humans.

Head lice are highly contagious and are easily spread through head-to-head contact.

Head lice cannot survive for long away from a host as they need regular meals.

The head louse lifecycle lasts approximately 30 days, during which the louse passes through three stages:

First eggs ( the nit):

then after shedding their skin (moulting) three times, head lice nymphs become mature adults; this normally takes 10 to 14 days.

Within a day of becoming adult hair lice, male and female lice will start to reproduce. More information can be found at http://www.nit-nurse.com/tips.asp

The key to treating a lice infestation – and preventing re-infestation – is to break the lifecycle with a product that removes the eggs before they can hatch. There are a number of natural non - toxic products available which assist the process, including Nit-Nurse which uses natural plant extracts and oils, including Olea europaea – one of nature’s anti-parasitics – and Eucalyptus globulus – a powerful natural disinfectant – to help eliminate head lice.

Other pages on the subject of head lice:-

How to remove head lice easily and painlessly, with or without the use of chemicals.

Additional information on head lice and treatments.

Head Lice - the common sense approach - everything you need to know about head lice.

Many people have suffered with this problem and we have many pages featuring personal experiences, home remedies, product reviews etc.

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