This week, with the return to the children’s schools and nursery schools, we say goodbye to the summer holidays. Although everything is happiness because the little ones see their friends and teachers again, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS), which depends on the Ministry of Health, has issued a warning: selfies favor the spread of lice . This is something that we adults must take into account, and we also have to transmit it to our children so that they are careful.
Lice are parasitic insects that mainly affect children. They adhere to the hair and feed on the blood they suck from the scalp . They are usually found on the nape and behind the ears. No, lice do not fly or jump, but they can easily move from hair to hair. Therefore, by putting heads together to take a selfie, lice can move from one person to another.
Lice have a life cycle that consists of three stages .
- Nits: hatch between six and nine days later.
- Nymphs: these are immature forms of the louse that become adults between nine and twelve days later.
- Lice: can live between three and four weeks. Females lay between six and ten eggs a day on average.
What are the symptoms of head lice?
The first thing to keep in mind is that a lice infestation does not imply that the person does not take care of their personal hygiene or lives in a dirty environment. Also, these little insects do not transmit disease .
It is relatively easy to notice the presence of lice because they cause a very intense itch on the scalp, ears and neck . When a person has an infestation for the first time, the itching most likely doesn’t start until four or even six weeks later.
Although lice are visible to the naked eye, they are sometimes difficult to detect because they move at full speed, avoid light, and are very small.
In addition to selfies, lice can be spread through hair accessories, brushes, hats, pillows, headphones …
Now, with the return to the classrooms , we must pay close attention to our children and, if we notice that they scratch their heads a lot, check for lice.
