We all know someone who has suffered through head lice. Whether it was yourself or someone close to you, we’ve seen the stress and toll head lice can put on a person and family. The good news is the more you know about head lice- the easier it is to keep them at bay. Let’s dig into the science behind head lice and learn how you can be prepared when they come your way.
Head Lice Science
Pediculus humanus capitis is the scientific name for head louse. Louse is the singular term for head lice. The symbiotic relationship between a human and head louse is parasitic, meaning they must feed off a human host to survive. Head lice gain energy from the blood of their hosts several times a day in order to survive and reproduce. Without a host, the louse will quickly parish. The louse life cycle is short but productive. Female louse will lay egg, or nits, near the scalp. Nits only take about a week to hatch and females can lay up to 8 nits per day. After hatching, the louse is called a nymph. This is related to the child to teenage stage of life. A nymph will molt three times leaving behind debris before becoming an adult. Once the louse reaches adult hood, they will live up to 30 days.
The good news is lice are not known to transmit disease; most infections occur from excessive scratching. It is estimated that between 6 and 12 million infestations occur in the United States annually. Infestations most commonly occur in those ages 3 to 11 years old. This is thought to be because of the amount of close contact between children during play times and at schools. Children tend to have less awareness over boundaries than adults. Since head lice must crawl host to host, direct contact is the most frequent way they are spread.
Traditionally, head lice have been treated with various over the counter methods, or by nitpicking methods. These treatments relied on the use of pyrethrins – a harsh chemical that is toxic to insects – along with multiple treatments. These methods worked until super lice began to appear. Super lice are resistant to chemicals and are not affected by their treatments. At Lice Clinics of America, we use our signature AirAllé treatment that kills all lice including super lice and nits. We don’t use any harsh chemicals. Instead, we use heat to dehydrate and kill lice. We also back our treatments with a lice free guarantee!
Don’t let head lice leave you overwhelmed and confused. Learn the science and facts behind head lice and stay lice free! Remember Lice Clinics of America is here to help with all your lice needs from advice to treatments!
If you have any questions or need a head lice removal treatment, don’t hesitate to contact us. At Lice Clinics of America – Puget Sound, Washington, which proudly serves Silverdale, Tacoma, Lakewood, and surrounding areas, we are here to help! Our heated removal process guarantees to remove head lice in 1 quick and safe treatment. Let your kids and family members get back to the things they enjoy. Call us today to schedule an appointment at (360) 358-7448!