In humans, three types of lice can parasitize: head, pubic and clothes. Do not think that pediculosis (lice), the symptoms of which we will consider further, may be the destiny of only homeless people or extremely untidy people who have fallen. Unfortunately, each of us runs the risk of getting this “pleasure”. Therefore, you should know how these parasites look and, most importantly, how to get rid of them.
Head lice: symptoms
In the hair on the head (preferring the back of the head and whiskey), less often on the eyebrows and eyelashes the head louse likes to settle . It is a translucent, grayish-white parasite with a size not exceeding 4 mm. He feeds on human blood, injecting into a microscopic bite a substance that interferes with blood clotting and causes unbearable itching. It just serves as the main sign that “tenants” appeared in the hair. In addition, you can find where the lice settled, the symptoms are no less obvious - these are nits - tiny white “grains” attached to the base of the hair with spikelets.
A person has a constant desire to comb the places of the bite, introducing a secondary infection into the wounds. Because of this, inflammation, crusts and swelling appear in the itching area.
Pubic lice: symptoms, photo
In a different way their name is "ploschitki". These are sedentary parasites, which are extremely difficult to see with the naked eye. As the name already implies, they settle, as a rule, on the hairy areas in the genital area, but are also found under the armpits, on the chest covered with “vegetation”, and in the beard. These lice appear after sexual intercourse, moving from an infected person to a healthy one. But there are cases of infection by them through towels and underwear. Without a person, lice live a day, and nits live even longer. So be careful!
The main symptom of the appearance of pubic lice is the same severe itching. Sometimes it manifests itself only at night, just not allowing you to close your eyes, and sometimes it haunts all day. Constant combing of bites can lead to eczema, which, of course, threatens infections.
Another symptom is quite noticeable bruising at the sites of bites. These bruises occur due to the injection of a secret that interferes with blood coagulation, or as a result of a small hemorrhage where the proboscis of the parasite has penetrated.
Body Lice: Symptoms
This type of louse settles mainly on clothing, in places most closely adjacent to the body: on the collar, on the cuffs, in the seams and on the bedding. There, parasites also lay eggs, in contrast to head and pubic lice, which do this on humans.
In addition, this species is especially dangerous because it can cause typhus.
How to get rid of lice
The usual washing of the head, hygiene procedures when infected with pubic lice and washing clothes and clothes when they detect clothes parasites is not an option! In order to remove them, you just need to shave off all the vegetation in the case of the former. This is not a terrible loss - the hair will grow back! The skin at the affected area is disinfected with 10% mercury ointment.
Body lice are destroyed by boiling and steam. They do not tolerate high temperatures. In addition, infected items need to be hung out for a week in the sun for ventilation.
And head lice, the symptoms of the presence of which have already been described, are eliminated with the help of a huge number of drugs presented in pharmacies (most importantly, carefully read the instructions) and a special frequent comb. Of folk remedies, the most effective: tar and dust soap, as well as cranberry juice.