What Are Head Lice Good For?
WouterIf you suspect your child has head lice, you need to take steps to prevent it. Check your child’s hair and clothing for signs of infestation. If your child has head lice, you should also notify his or her school or daycare. You should also check other family members for signs of infection. Head lice are contagious, so it’s best to treat the entire family at the same time.
Head lice can live on the head of a person for up to 48 hours, so it’s important to make sure your child’s head and bedding are kept in clean, hot water. If you cannot launder the clothing, you can place the item in the freezer. The temperature will kill the lice in 10 hours or less. In addition, you should keep your child’s head covered while applying the conditioner, which will suffocate the lice.
If your child is at school, you should check his or her hair nightly with a metal lice comb. This tool should have a good light source to ensure that all lice are visible. If you find any lice, take him or her to a doctor for treatment. Early diagnosis is important because it’s easier to treat head louse problems at an early stage than later.
You can also try using insecticides. Some of these products contain a chemical known as benzyl alcohol, which kills the head lice. However, benzyl alcohol is flammable, so you should be careful not to use them around open flames. It’s also important to keep in mind that there is a possibility of an allergic reaction to benzyl alcohol. Although this reaction is rare, it can lead to facial swelling and difficulty breathing.
