Head lice: now they're crawling again
Luise Heine has been an editor at since 2012. The qualified biologist studied in Regensburg and Brisbane (Australia) and gained experience as a journalist in television, in the Ratgeber-Verlag and in a print magazine. In addition to her work at , she also writes for children, for example for the Stuttgarter Kinderzeitung, and has her own breakfast blog, “Kuchen zum Frühstück”.
More posts by Luise Heine All content is checked by medical journalists.What am I itching? Especially after the summer vacation, head lice are increasingly romping around on children's heads, because they are likely to bring the animals with them from vacation. Chemical substances help in the elimination. At least if the bloodsuckers still respond to it and are not already resistant. In the USA, however, that is precisely what is increasingly a problem.
If children complain of severely itchy scalps, parents should pay attention - and act quickly. A close inspection of the hair, preferably damp and with the help of a lice comb, will reveal the parasites and their eggs (nits). A quick and thorough treatment with lice remedies such as permethrin or pyrethrum was previously considered a reliable way to get rid of head lice - provided the insects are still sensitive to the nerve toxins.
But that is exactly what seems to be becoming more and more of a problem. Several European countries such as Denmark are already struggling with the fact that the lice continue to crawl on their heads despite treatment. Researchers have now systematically examined the full extent for the first time in the USA.
100 percent immune
To do this, the scientist Kyong Yoon from Southern Illinois University subjected head lice to genetic examinations in 30 states. In 25 of them, the pests already showed genetic changes that made them 100 percent immune to the anti-lice agents. And the researcher also knows why: "If we use the same chemical over and over again, these little creatures simply develop resistance at some point."
For this reason, it is also important to consistently complete a lice treatment. Usually this means repeating the application after a few days. The researcher advises those affected in the areas without effective lice agents to switch to other active ingredients, such as those that most likely clog the insects' respiratory openings with oils or waxes. These remedies are also unlikely to make the lice immune to them.
Crawling holiday souvenir
Especially after the summer holidays, the number of cases in German schools and kindergartens increases. Experts suspect that the children get the blood-sucking souvenir while playing with other children or because of the more cramped space, for example when camping. Back from vacation, they infect their playmates here.
If the lice are not recognized quickly, they can continue to spread. Especially since by far not all those affected complain of itching. Therefore: If there is a lice infestation, all close contacts should be examined and, if necessary, treated.
No false shame
So that the lice infestation can be effectively combated, it is important not to hide the infection from others out of false shame. Only if the head lice are dealt with over a large area does not create a vicious circle with ever new infections.
Shame is also not at all appropriate, because whether someone has head lice in their hair or not has nothing to do with hygiene. Normal shampoo doesn't bother the parasites - no matter how often you wash with it. In fact, contact with infected people is necessary for the insects to be transmitted. If an adult louse is pulled by a hair, it reflexively stretches out a grasping leg in order to cling to it.
That is why close physical contact from person to person is the main risk factor for a lice infection - that is, cuddling, scuffling or simply sticking your heads together. Indirect transmission, for example by using the same hairbrush or hat, is very rare. Because the crawlers regularly need a meal of blood, otherwise they dry up quickly.
Girls affected more often
Head lice are widespread worldwide and their habitat is exclusively restricted to human heads. In general, girls are more often affected than boys, probably because of their longer hair. There are no exact numbers of infestations for Germany. Since head lice do not transmit diseases, there is also no obligation to report to official bodies - the school or kindergarten you attend must be informed. And: Children are only allowed to go there again after treatment has started.
Source:
American chemical society news release: Lice in at least 25 states show resistance to common treatments
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