What are lice called differently. Types of lice, how to identify the parasite. Places with a lot of people
Infection with head lice, or, scientifically, pediculosis, is considered by many to be something shameful, a sign that a person does not follow the rules of hygiene, does not wash, does not keep himself or his child clean.
However, this approach is completely wrong - it is possible to become infected with pediculosis easier than a lung, especially for children, and getting rid of it today is much easier thanks to great choice pharmaceutical preparations. Unfortunately, there is no immunity to head lice, and infection can occur multiple times.
Let's figure out what pediculosis is and how to deal with it, and at the same time we will try to find out if lice can appear on nervous grounds.
What is a head louse
Head lice (lat. Pediculus humanus capitis) live in the hairline on the head of a person, in his hair, mustache and beard. In addition, they are able to live up to two days (but not more) without food on personal items (comb, towel, hats).
They do not die in water when washing their hair. It has been proven that head lice prefer clean and healthy hair for sowing their eggs (nits).
A - male, B - female
Unlike body lice, the head louse is less dangerous to humans, it is not a carrier of diseases such as typhus. However, the itching that comes from saliva getting into the wounds leads to irritation, and the chances of getting infections through the damaged areas of the scalp are increased.
Head lice are wingless insects that can only distinguish light from darkness. Therefore, their main sense organ is the sense of smell. Lice can neither fly nor jump, but move quite quickly: at a speed of up to 23 cm / min. Therefore, they are able to quickly change the owner, having moved from the head of a patient with pediculosis to the head or clothes of an uninfected one.
Lice from nerves myth or reality
Many believe that head lice can appear on nervous grounds: supposedly for the time being they are either in the form of larvae, or in a dormant state, and when a person is very nervous, they wake up and multiply.
All this is nothing more than a myth. It has been scientifically proven that lice appear only through direct or indirect contact with a pediculosis patient. By direct contact, we mean the contact of the hair of a healthy and sick person, or the ingress of lice on the clothes of a healthy person, from where they quickly find their way to the head. But there is also indirect contact:
- Use of personal belongings of an infected person (comb / hairbrush, towel, hat, hair clips, etc.):
- The use of bed linen, in particular, pillows after a patient with pediculosis;
- Headrests on public transport and other surfaces that may harbor lice or nits.
The myth about the appearance of lice on nerves most likely arose due to the fact that stressful situations really cause various diseases, and when a person cannot understand where he got lice from, he assumes that they were caused by negative experiences. In addition, the symptoms of nervous itching and pediculosis are largely similar.
It is easiest to get pediculosis in the subway, bathhouse, hospital, swimming pool, hairdresser, even in the elevator. The main mode of movement of lice is running, which is why pediculosis is so easily transmitted.
It is enough to touch clean hair to the infected head.
Often, children become the source of infection of the whole family with pediculosis, who, due to close communication in the children's team, are especially susceptible to this disease.
However, oddly enough, there is a grain of truth in the connection between "nervous soil" and the appearance of lice, and it's all about the smell.
From the many applicants for the role of the host located nearby, they choose those whose smell attracts them most, and these are just people under stress.
And we are talking not about ordinary experiences, but about situations accompanied by severe nervous breakdown. Indeed, during a period of severe stress, immunity drops sharply and certain hormones are produced. There is a theory that it is a special smell, the appearance of which is facilitated by the release of "stress hormones" - adrenaline, norepinephrine - and attracts lice.
However, the spontaneous appearance of lice in the absence of a carrier is impossible. Susceptibility to head lice infection lies only in the greater vulnerability of stressed people to transmission from an existing carrier.
Can there be lice on the nerves of a child
According to statistics, every fifth child in the world has had or is suffering from head lice. Children are considered a risk group in relation to pediculosis, since their body is much weaker than an adult, and besides, they are less selective in contacts. However, it happens exactly the same as in adults.
The child's body is also not adapted for the hidden living of lice, like an adult, so this problem cannot appear only due to stress. Regardless of the age of the patient, the answer to the question of whether there are lice from the nerves is unequivocal - this cannot be.
How to treat pediculosis in humans
But we'll start with, which are far from harmless to the body, especially for children.
Since ancient times, lice have been removed with kerosene and vinegar, but they often cause chemical burns to the scalp, especially if the proportions are incorrectly calculated.
If the substance gets on the mucous membrane of the eye, mouth or nose, then the patient is guaranteed serious problems with these bodies.
Vapors of kerosene and vinegar are very toxic, especially for children and pregnant women. Also detrimental to such folk remedies and on the hair itself: they change their structure and color.
In this list, one can separately note the ancient remedy for the treatment of pediculosis - hellebore water. This alcohol tincture roots and rhizomes of hellebore Lobel.
The alkaloids contained in this solution have a neurotoxic effect on lice and nits. Hellebore water also has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. However, it is categorically contraindicated in children under 2.5 years of age, pregnant and lactating women, as it has a teratogenic effect.
The easiest way to get rid of head lice is to shave your hair bald. This method is perfect for young children, the use of insecticidal preparations for which is contraindicated.
Nowadays, there are a number of modern anti-pediculosis drugs in the form of shampoos, aerosols, emulsions, creams. Each such product sold in pharmacies is accompanied by detailed instructions, which must be strictly followed, especially given the restrictions regarding children, pregnant and lactating women.
Important in the treatment of pediculosis A complex approach. It is necessary not only to destroy the adult, but also its eggs - nits. All family members, even if they do not have lice, are treated on the same day.
- - a drug with a disinfectant effect, available in the form of lotion (60 ml) and cream (115 g);
- -5 - percentage concentrate, from which you need to prepare an emulsion yourself. Volume - 2 ml and 24 ml. The product is prepared immediately before application: 8 ml of Medifox is diluted in 200 ml of warm boiled water;
- - a combined preparation, which, in addition to permethrin, contains malathion (an organophosphorus insecticide) and piperonyl butoxide (enhances the effect of the previous ones). Available as an aerosol (116 g).
- - based on phenothrin. Release form - lotion;
Lice are constantly laying eggs. The eggs together with the cocoon are called nits. Over the period of life, one female, on average, manages to lay about 140 eggs. Nits are not transmitted from person to person.
When bitten, areas of redness appear on the body, accompanied by severe itching. Scratched areas become infected with secondary microflora. They live in different parts of the body different types lice families: head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) live on the head, body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis) live on clothes, pubic lice (Pediculus humanus pubis, P. invaginalis) live on the skin of the pubic area. Pediculosis is often mixed.
In the Russian Federation, the disease pediculosis has been subject to mandatory registration since 1987.
Rice. 1. Lice have been known to mankind since ancient times.
Where do lice come from
The main way of distribution of lice is contact. Infection with lice occurs with close contact of people, which often occurs in children's groups, in public transport, at mass events, when using other people's combs, hats, clothes and underwear.
Unfavorable sanitary and hygienic conditions are the main factor in the occurrence of pediculosis. Clothes louse is often a companion of unsanitary conditions. However, the disease also occurs in clean people. Outbreaks of pediculosis are recorded constantly. The peak of diseases is observed in autumn, when adults and children return from vacation (pioneer camps, resorts).
Pediculosis in our country today is an acute problem. Up to 35% of all cases of the disease are common among people aged 15-24 years. 27% of cases are children under the age of 14. 16% of cases are adults 35-60 years old. Pediculosis often affects children from orphanages, boarding schools and preschool institutions.
In vagrants, clothes pediculosis is more often recorded, pubic - in young people. Head lice are transmitted to babies from the mother.
Rice. 2. Infection with lice occurs with close contact between people and clothing.
Insects are carriers of some infectious diseases(typhus and relapsing fever, trench fever).
Lice feed on the blood of the mammals they live on. At one time, one individual is sucked up to 0.5 ml. blood. Fasting for 1 - 2 days leads insects to death.
Lice die at temperatures above 45°C and below 0°C. If the ambient temperature drops gradually and not much, the insects fall into a state of suspended animation, in which they can stay for several weeks without food.
In the folds of clothing and on the hair in places of greatest growth, lice lay their eggs. Eggs in a cocoon are called nits.
Lice can be clearly seen under a microscope. In addition to the insects themselves, you can see 6 legs, cephalothorax, body segments, abdomen and antennae.
Rice. 5. In the photo, insects under a microscope. Left - pubic, right - head lice.
Next, the insect proceeds to suck blood, in which the pharyngeal pump contracts several times per second. The blood sucking lasts for a few seconds. During this time, about 1 mg of blood enters the female's stomach. Thanks to the development of an anticoagulant secret, the blood does not clot. Lice nutrition occurs only in sedentary areas of the body.
Rice. 7. In the photo head louse under a microscope (top view).
Rice. 8. The photo shows lice under a microscope.
Rice. 10. The body of the pubic louse is shortened (photo on the left), in the head and body louse it is elongated (photo on the right).
Rice. 11. The front pair of legs of insects ends with sickle-shaped claws, thanks to which they are firmly held on the hair and body of the host.
Rice. 14. In the photo there are body lice. After feeding, the insects become dark in color and look like bedbugs.
reproduction
Females lay eggs 3 to 6 times a day. On average, an adult lives for about 46 days. During this period of time, the female lays about 140 eggs. A cocoon is formed around the egg, which, thanks to the sticky secretion secreted by lice, is attached and held on the hair for a long time. The egg and cocoon are called nits. The length of the nits is about 1 mm.
Rice. 15. In the photo, the lice breeding cycle from egg to egg, which lasts from 18 to 22 days.
Rice. 16. In the photo, the transformation of a nymph into an adult.
head louse
Head and body lice are very similar in appearance. They often interbreed with each other and give offspring, change their “place of residence”. The body louse and the head louse are considered twin species.
The head louse lives on the scalp, often on the back of the head, temple, beard and mustache in men. Thanks to special structure paws, the insect is firmly attached to bundles of hair with a round cross section.
Lice only crawl. From person to person they crawl through towels, bed sheets, combs, etc. They can be picked up in the train car, on the beach, in the store and in the pool.
The louse lays eggs 4-5 times a day. Throughout life, the number of eggs laid reaches 120 - 140. Egg maturation lasts 7 - 10 days. Most often, eggs are laid in the behind-the-ear region and the lower part of the occiput.
Head lice feed 1-2 times a day. After absorbing blood, the abdomen of the insect acquires a purple color. The volume of blood sucked by the female at one time is about 0.7 ml. Males suck blood three times less. Without food, the head louse dies after two days.
The life span of insects is 28 to 38 days.
Rice. 17. In the photo there is a head louse (adult) and nits.
Rice. 18. After the absorption of blood, the abdomen of the insect acquires a purple color.
Pubic lice
Due to the special structure of the paws, pubic lice are firmly attached to tufts of hair having a triangular cross section. Insects live in the pubis, perineum, scrotum, perianal folds, rarely - along the edge of hair growth on the head, in the axillary region, on eyelashes and eyebrows. The transmission of lice from person to person is carried out by sexual and contact routes.
Attached by the mouths of the follicles to human skin, pubic lice feed almost continuously, as a result of which itching bothers the patient constantly. The life span of insects is 21 to 28 days.
Rice. 19. In the photo, pubic louse and nits.
Rice. 20. In the photo of the habitat pubic lice- pubic area (left) and eyelashes (right).
Rice. 21. The photo shows pubic lice in the armpit.
Linen lice
The body louse is larger than the head louse, has an elongated abdomen and a uniform gray color. In length, adults are 3-5 mm.
Linen lice eat 2 - 3 times a day. For food, insects crawl onto the skin, most often the lumbar region and neck. Egg laying occurs 6-14 times a day. In her entire life, one female lays 180 - 200 eggs.
The life span of body lice is 4 weeks for males and 1.5 - 2 months for females.
Rice. 22. In the photo there is a linen (clothes) louse and its nits.
Rice. 24. In the photo, the accumulation of body lice on clothes (photo on the left) and synthetic insulation (photo on the right).
What are nits
Female lice lay eggs on average 3-6 times a day. On average, an adult lives for about 46 days. During this period of time, the female manages to lay about 140 eggs.
head lice live from 28 to 38 days. Females lay eggs 4-5 times a day. Throughout life, the number of eggs laid reaches 120 - 140. Egg maturation lasts 7 - 10 days.
Pubic lice live from 21 to 28 days. Females lay up to 3 nits per day. In her entire life, a female lays up to 30 eggs.
body lice live from 1.5 to 2 months. Females lay eggs 6-14 times a day. In her entire life, one female lays 180 - 200 eggs.
What are nits
A cocoon is formed around the egg, which, thanks to the sticky secretion secreted by lice, is attached and held on the hair for a long time. The egg and cocoon are called nits. Nits are not transmitted from person to person.
What do nits look like
Due to the fact that nits exist only on the hair, they are more visible than adult insects, which spend most of their time on the skin.
Head and pubic lice lay their eggs on the hair. Body lice lay their eggs randomly. They fall on the fabric of clothing and are attached there. Body lice nits are located in the seams and folds of clothing.
Nits have White color. Their length is from 0.4 to 2.0 mm. Pubic lice have the shortest nits. Their length is 0.4 mm.
Nits are spindle-shaped. The substance from which the capsule is formed tightly envelops the hair.
Rice. 25. In the photo appearance nits. The cocoon and lid are clearly visible.
How lice eggs ripen
Female body lice and pubic lice lay their eggs on different hairs. With advanced pediculosis, egg laying can occur on the same hair.
It takes 5-8 days from the egg stage to the larvae. This process is influenced by temperature. environment. The optimum temperature for incubation is 33°C.
Larvae and lice die at temperatures above 45 ° C and below 0 ° C. If the ambient temperature drops gradually and not much, the insects fall into suspended animation, and the development of eggs slows down. At low temperatures egg development may stop for several months.
Due to the frequent cooling of clothes, body lice eggs can take much longer to develop than head and pubic lice eggs. The hatched larva is able to crawl.
Rice. 26. In the photo on the left, the moment of opening the nits. First, the lid is separated from the nits. Air enters its cavity, which accumulates at the base and gradually squeezes out the larva. In the photo on the right, the moment the larva emerges.
Rice. 27. In the photo on the left is a nit, inside which the larva ripens. In the photo on the right, a view of the nits after the larvae exits.
Rice. 34. In the photo, pubic lice and nits on the hair of the pubic zone and eyelashes.
Rice. 35. In the photo there are linen lice and nits.
It is generally accepted that pediculosis is common only among those individuals who lead an asocial lifestyle and do not follow the rules of personal hygiene. However, this opinion is erroneous, since even rich people living in luxury have head lice. Where do these insects come from? What are the causes of pediculosis infection? These questions are of great concern to many.
Most often, infection occurs in kindergartens, schools, boarding schools and other in public places. Indirect transmission of pediculosis is carried out from a patient to a healthy person with common use one comb, exchange of hats, scarves, hair accessories, as well as through towels, pillows, clothing and more.
Head louse - what is it?
Lice spend their entire lives on the scalp of a person. If uninvited guests somehow leave human hair, they die within 1-2 days. Such insects cannot exist on animals.
To assess the rate of development of head lice, it is important to know how quickly head lice multiply. The insect development cycle is 30-40 days, during which time the louse manages to lay 2-3 hundreds of nits. Lice eggs are small translucent or white-yellow grains, similar to sesame seeds. As a rule, the female attaches the larva in the basal part of the hair, about 5 mm from the skin surface. After 10 days, young individuals - nymphs - hatch from the eggs. During this time, the hair has time to grow a little, so all the nits located more than 1 centimeter from the skin are already empty.
After 2 weeks, the nymphs turn into adults capable of laying eggs. With each new offspring, the reproduction of head lice becomes more and more spontaneous. The sooner pediculosis is detected, the easier it will be to get rid of it. The main thing is to be able to recognize it by its symptoms.
Signs of pediculosis
Medicines that destroy lice and fleas contain substances called insecticidal. Among these funds - "Permethrin", "Malathion", "Cypermethrin", "Fenotrin" and others. Unfortunately, the use of medicines containing the above substances can be dangerous for humans. Therefore, being interested in how to remove head lice with these drugs, you should carefully study the instructions and follow all the prescribed recommendations.
No matter how the infection occurs, lice are unpleasant and embarrassing. How to find out if a person has lice, and what symptoms indicate the presence of pediculosis.
You can get lice by direct contact with an infected person, or by using other people's personal hygiene items. Often, infection occurs when swimming in open water and visiting public baths.
The first symptom that allows you to find out about infection is itching in the pubic and groin area.
If you watch a sleeping patient, you can see: he does not release his hand from his pants, constantly scratching the bites.
During the bite, the bloodsucker releases exudate that prevents blood from clotting. It is this liquid that causes a local allergic reaction.
severe itching
A man scratches his head and temples. By the way, the temporal region can be examined in front of a mirror.
Surely everyone, having found lice in himself, asked with horror: what to do? The main thing is not to panic.
Now there are a lot of different drugs that get rid of the disease quickly and effectively. Carefully read the instructions for the anti-pediculosis agent. , the elderly and children.
On a note!
There is a claim that there are the following types human lice: head, clothes and pubic. In reality, lice on a person’s head and in his clothes are morphotypes. According to laboratory studies, if they are placed together, they may well interbreed and even give offspring. Accordingly, these are the same representatives of the lice order, belonging to the species Pediculus humanus.
A photo of the types of lice that live on the human body is presented below.
head lice
They are the most common in humans. The disease they cause is called. Insects affect only the scalp. Sometimes they can move to the chin area, live in the beard and mustache of the stronger sex. contact and household methods: with close communication, when using other people's hats or hair care items (combs, hairpins, etc.).
Compared with their relatives, the size of the lice that live on the human head is larger (up to 4 mm). Males are much smaller than females (2-3 mm). The piercing-sucking type of mouth apparatus allows the insect to bite through the skin of a person and feed on his blood.
On a note!
More than a day without food. The life expectancy of a bloodsucker is about three weeks, during which time the female is able to lay up to 5 eggs (nits) daily. Favorable for is the temperature in the range of 23-40 degrees. below 0 and above 45 degrees.
What are lice and nits, a person who, to one degree or another, has already encountered pediculosis, can know. Small (up to 0.8 mm) eggs of head lice have a light shade, in appearance they are very similar to mother-of-pearl beads. The female attaches them firmly to the hair with a secret adhesive, usually at a distance of 2 cm from the surface. skin. difficult for an ignorant person. As they mature, the eggs increase in size and become more dark color. The larva that was born becomes sexually mature after 5-6 days. , clearly demonstrates the photo.
Clothes or have a similar structure and body size. Their main distinctive feature is white or gray-yellow. By the name of this type of pest, it is clear that insects live mainly in clothes or underwear of people, performing on hairless areas of the body. However, having settled in things that a person puts on infrequently, the bloodsuckers will inevitably die. That is why the owners most often become people of a low social level or vagabonds, who rarely wash their clothes.
The life expectancy of linen lice is within 1.5 months. During this time, the female is able to give birth to more than one hundred offspring. Very small eggs (up to 0.5 mm) are laid by white lice right in clothes. The larval development cycle takes about two weeks.
Pubic lice
On a note!
The habitat of pubic lice is the inguinal zone, they can also be found in the armpits, on the eyebrows and. Sexual contact and the use of someone else's clothes are the main ways of infecting pubic lice.
Signs of lice of any kind
Knowing the signs of lice and how to deal with them, you can take the necessary measures in a timely manner.
- Itching of the skin, resulting in severe scratching. Such damage may contribute to the development of a secondary infection.
- The appearance of a rash. A few days later, red spots appear, which later have a bluish tint.
- At the site of damage, abscesses and boils develop, as well as pigmentation and seals.
- The presence, live, as well as the lice themselves.
Methods of treatment
- To remove head and pubic lice, you can use, or, which are based on insecticides. The selected agent is used as described. Then the hair is washed running water and let them dry naturally.
- The next stage of the struggle is, which is carried out with the help of a special comb. It differs from a regular comb in small and frequent teeth, the distance between which does not exceed 0.2 mm. For better combing, hair should be divided into strands.
- Washing and heat treatment is necessary to tuck the things and bed linen of an infected person.
- Most often, with shampoo or spray, it becomes necessary to re-treat the head. This is due to the fact that it has an effect mostly on adults. From the remaining living nits, new larvae will appear in a few days, which will multiply again.
On a note!
Particularly popular in
