Wet Combing for The Eradication of Head Lice
Head lice can be treated with manual removal (with conditioner and comb or a wet comb). Infestation of head lice (Pediculosis humanus capitis) is a common occurrence. It's diagnosed by looking at the lice.
Because 50% of those
afflicted with head lice don't scratch, everyone who comes into touch with one
should be carefully examined for infestations. Wet combing is simple and safe
to do at home, but it takes perseverance. This article explains how to get rid
of head lice with a wet comb.
What are the symptoms
of head lice?
Growths of the
Pediculus humanus capitis species are known as 'head lice.' Infestations are
prevalent, especially in school-aged children, and they afflict individuals of
different ages and socioeconomic classes all over the world.
How can you know if you
have head lice?
An infected person's
lice can be noticed on their scalp or in their hair. Scratching in reaction to
itch will occur in roughly half of those affected with head lice. Anyone who
has come into touch with a person who has head lice should be checked for
infestations as well.
Wet brushing for head
lice identification can be utilised to get a diagnose. Given the length and
density of the child's hair, the procedure takes 5–15 mins. To efficiently
capture head lice and their larvae, combs for head lice identification should
have a blade width of less than 0.3 mm.
For lice
identification, several authorities advise using plastic (rather than metal)
combs. In the 'intervention' part, the mechanisms of brushing the hair for head
lice diagnosis are explained.
Wet combing technique.
- To do wet combing, first, wash your hair with a regular shampoo.
- Use a lot of conditioners to help straighten and detangle your
hair.
- Using a broad comb, straighten and untangle damp hair.
- Swap to head lice detecting comb after the comb slides easily
through the hair without tangling.
- Drag the comb downwards to the rest of the hair with each stroke,
making sure the edges of the comb slide into the hairs at the bases and
the firmly scalloped edge barely touches the scalp.
- After every sweep, assess the comb for lice and eliminate them by
wiping or washing it.
- Part by part, work your way through the hairline.
- Remove the conditioner by rinsing it off. This may have taken
anything from 10 mins (for short hair) to 30 mins (for long hair).
- Assess for any lice that may have been
overlooked the first time by repeating the combing operation in damp hair.
Commercial solutions
and conditioners on dry hair are two examples of variants.
All techniques
recommend continuing the operation on a regular basis (every two days to once a
week) until no more lice are discovered. Most treatments recommend recurring
for at least two weeks. The wet combing process was repeated every three days
throughout the study until no head lice were found on four consecutive
occasions.
What should I think
about?
Each individual with
head lice infections can be treated with wet combing. Those who have
insecticide-resistant infestations may find it particularly useful.
●
Women who are pregnant or nursing.
● Babies.
● Allergy sufferers or those with
open scalp scars
● Persons who suffer from asthma
●
People who are apprehensive about
using pesticides.
Considerations.
●To be effective, any approach must
be carried out meticulously and pedantically — the word 'nit-picking' is apt
here.
●There is no strategy that is 100
percent successful.
●Treatments must be repeated,
regardless of the modality utilised.
●There is no way to ensure that you
will not get head lice again.
To Conclude
There isn't much you
can do to keep head lice at bay. Wet or dry combing on a regular basis can help
stop them from spreading by catching them early.
For head lice treatment, you can use medicated
lotions and sprays. But sometimes they have the potential to irritate the
scalp. There's no need for kids to skip school or wash their clothes on a hot
setting.