Liceb Lice

LicebLice

Lice are blood-sucking insects, parasites of mammals and humans, whose entire life cycle takes place on the host. More than 150 species of lice are known. There are three families: blind lice - parasites of terrestrial mammals (except monkeys and humans); spiny lice are parasites of marine mammals; Pediculids are parasites of monkeys and humans.

Parasitic on humans are: body louse, head louse, flat louse, or pubic louse. Lice at all stages of transformation (except eggs) feed only on blood. The body louse feeds 2-3 times a day and spends 3-10 minutes feeding.

The optimal temperature for laying eggs is 28-30°. The eggs (nits) are glued by the female to the hair or fibers of the fabric. The timing of hatching from eggs and further development of larvae also depends on the ambient temperature.

After the third molt, the larva turns into an adult louse (imago). The entire development cycle lasts at least 15 days. A body louse can live up to 2 months, a head louse about 4 weeks. Lice are carriers of the causative agents of epidemic typhus, louse-borne relapsing fever, and trench fever. Infection of a person with lice is called lice (pediculosis).

The spread of lice is usually associated with unsatisfactory sanitary and hygienic conditions and the low material and cultural level of the population. Lice are a frequent companion to various social and natural disasters.

There are lice of the scalp, lice of the skin of the torso and lice of the pubic skin. With lice on the scalp caused by head lice, severe itching of the skin develops; this can lead to scratching and then to the appearance of pustular lesions.

Body lice, which live and lay eggs mainly in the folds of linen and move to the skin only for feeding, infect the skin mainly in places where clothing fits more tightly to the body. Itching also develops here, and then scratching is possible, accompanied by pustules, boils, etc.

With prolonged infestation, the skin in these areas becomes thickened and pigmented. The area most often affects the skin of the pubis and perineum, but lesions in the armpits, eyebrows and eyelashes can also occur.

Prevention of lice is achieved by increasing the material and cultural level of the population, disseminating sanitary knowledge, improving bath and laundry services for the population, etc.

Individual prevention of lice comes down to regular body washing (at least once a week) and changing underwear and bed linen; frequent control combing of children, prevention of close contacts with lice patients; in case of unsatisfactory sanitary and living conditions (collective accommodation for seasonal work, long stays on the road, work in geological, geodetic teams, etc.) - to control inspections of linen for possible lice.

Liberation from lice. If there are head lice, the first step is to comb them out with a fine-toothed comb, being careful not to scatter the lice. It is recommended that men and children have their hair cut short. Chemical treatment is the most effective.

To do this, use: pure kerosene; soap-kerosene emulsion (kerosene - 45 parts, green soap - 30 parts, hot water - 25 parts); 50% albichtol paste; water emulsion of soap K, SK, etc. One of these products is used to moisten the hair generously, tie the head with a tight scarf for 20-30 minutes, and then wash with warm water and soap and comb out with a fine comb.

Liquid products can be replaced with 5-10% DDT dust and pyrethrum, which are used to pollinate the hairy parts of the body for 30 minutes. The average consumption of powdered products is 10-15 grams.

The fight against body lice involves washing the body with hot water and soap and disinfecting linen, outerwear and bedding.

If there are flat spots, shave off the hair on the pubis and under the arms, rub it into the affected areas.