About Head Lice
Head Lice, also known scientifically as Pediculus Humanis Capitis, are wingless parasitic insects that feed off human blood and cause severe itching of the Head.
Having head lice does not mean that you or your family is dirty, nor does it indicate uncleanliness.
ALL ethnic groups are affected all over the world. Hawaiians call them "uku's", New Zealanders calls them "Kutu's" - the same annoying thing, just different names. But call them what you like, as small as they are, they can still cause anxiety to many families who have had to deal with them. You may have tried many times to eradicate head lice and spent hundreds of dollars on products just to find them back again a few weeks later.
Pediculosis is the general term used for the infestation of the body or hair with adult lice, nymph and nits (eggs). Head lice are relatively common and are not a major health hazard, yet!
Parents cringe when their child's school calls to pick them up because they are infested or they have made the discovery themselves. No-one to date has found a sure-fire way of totally eradicating head lice in a community. There may be "miracle cures" offered but few live up to the claims.
Head lice are a common problem throughout the world. Schools do not give people head lice, people bring head lice to schools. Head lice are also brought to churches, supermarkets, sports fields and homes by people. A population is likely to host head lice most of the time. Infestation levels rise and fall for no apparent reason and sometimes head lice appear to be epidemic while at other times they appear to be on holiday in another community.
Controlling head lice requires people in a community act as a whole.
What do they look like?
Lice are about the size of a sesame seed, clear in color when first hatched and become brown after they feed. They tend to blend with the host head and can move very quickly, scurrying away from light.Head lice are small insects approximately 2 to 4 mm long and about 1mm wide. They have six legs with claws and are usually a light or dark brown colour.
Eggs (nits) are small and hard like a grain of salt and are yellow-white in colour. Eggs are usually found on the hair very close to the scalp. Those found further from the scalp than one to one and half centimeters from the scalp are probably dead or hatched.
Sometimes a person with head lice or eggs might feel itchy, but not always.
How do you get them?
You can get head lice by sharing the same bed or clothes (such as hats, jackets), combs, brushes, backpacks, just to name a few, with an infested person. Lice (kutu/uku/utu) crawl from person to person. They DO NOT jump or fly or swim, they can only crawl (if you were wondering). They can survive only 1-2 days away from a host (human head). As the lice can only survive on human blood, it needs to feed at least every 3 hours.Head lice crawl from head to head. Because young children are often in close proximity to one another in the playground or the classroom, or in close proximity to family adults at home, head lice have opportunities to move from one head to another. It is impossible to know the origin of an out-break!
Our services are not limited to just children; unfortunately head lice do not discriminate. You might even discover them on yourself! We can help you too.
Who can get them?
Anyone! If you have close contact with anyone infested its possible you can catch them too.Although most are commonly found on school aged children. They do not discriminate & are not limited to certain age groups, because all they want to do is suck your bloooooooood.!
We consider them as uninvited hitch-hikers going along for a free ride and a free meal and why not start a family (on your child’s head) and cause some headaches on the way.
Head lice do not cause disease and are not considered a health hazard - yet!
They may cause an uncomfortable itching. At worst, a child with head lice may scratch excessively and break the scalp possibly allowing infection in. An infestation of head lice should be detected and dealt with long before it becomes either highly visible or irritating.
We Are Angels with a Mission to Clean-up our Community -
One Head At a Time!
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