Can nits live in pillows, how many days do they go without people

Lice are obligate and highly specialized human parasites. They are absolutely not adapted to life outside his body or on other animals. Only in exceptional cases, lice can live and somehow multiply in the hairline on the body of some monkeys, but here they feel much worse than in human hair.

To the question of how long lice live without a person, you can give a simple answer - exactly as much as they can withstand without food. And the question of hunger for lice is very, very acute - usually, a louse cannot fast for more than 2 days, and only when the temperature drops to 10-12 ° C can it last up to 10 days without food.

On a note
Pubic louse is even less hardy - it can starve at normal 28-30 ° C for no more than 8-9 hours, and after this period it will die if it does not get to the human body. But in the water, lice, especially pubic ones, can survive for two days, and therefore are often transmitted from person to person in places of public bathing.

How much lice live, how much they feed continuously. Head lice eat 4 times a day, pubic lice - every 3-4 hours.

From the above considerations, it is easy to understand that lice cannot live long outside the head and, in general, outside a living being.

It is interesting
Frequently asked questions by parents such as "how many nits live" or "how many nits live without a person" are not entirely correct. Nits are not independent insects, but only lice eggs, each in its own shell. Therefore, they do not live, but develop. Without a person, they retain their ability to develop for a long time - up to several days.

What does a louse look like

In order to be sure that a person has head lice, you need to know what a louse looks like. This is a small insect, the body length of which is up to 3 mm. The louse, as a rule, is gray or brown in color, has all the body parts necessary for the insect: legs (6 pieces), abdomen, antennae and cephalothorax. Moreover, the parasite has no wings at any stage of development. If you look at a louse without enlargers, then it resembles an ordinary grayish insect. And the insect known as the body louse is white in color. The pubic parasite of a dark color is closer to brown, and the body resembles a crab.

Parasites in dogs

Lice in dogs also carry helminths. The affected animal experiences severe discomfort:

constantly itches and scratches wounds;
loses hair;
losing weight;
worries, refuses food and walks.

For prevention, dog owners need to regularly examine the coat for parasites. Total defeat leads to a serious decrease in immunity and high risks of other diseases.

Dog lice are easy to treat. In veterinary medicine, there are many ways to quickly kill the parasite:

shampoo;
drops;
spray;
collar.

For puppies up to 2 months old, it is recommended to use only gentle means: sprays and shampoos.

Where do lice live besides the human head?

Head lice live at home in any of the things of an infected person. This can be bedding, pillows, clothing, combs, and even home rugs. Therefore, at the first opportunity, they easily fall back into the hair or completely to another person.For this reason, infection often occurs in children's sports or dance sections, where children use shared rugs and costumes. However, girls with long hair are more susceptible to infection than boys with very short hair.

Do lice live in colored hair and on short hair?

Despite the widespread belief that lice live at any length of hair, there is still more chance of getting into long strands than short ones. There were cases when all family members became infected, except for those who had very short haircuts. This suggests that lice are not comfortable living in too short hair.

In dyed hair, parasites also get along well, but before the next dyeing of the head. Since many paints contain hydrogen peroxide, insects cannot survive during the exposure to the coloring process.

Do lice live in bedding and pillows?

If there are a lot of head parasites, they can move to bedding and pillows.

Therefore, very often infection occurs in not entirely clean hotels and inns, where insufficient attention is paid to bedding. In bed linen, parasites can live long enough, subject to periodic reinforcement with blood.

Do head lice live on clothes

Of course, head insects also live on clothes. But in addition to hair types, clothing parasites can also live in clothes. Chicken fleas can also be found, which also bite people. In closed seams of clothing, clothing insects can not only hide, but also develop, leaving their larvae. Therefore, for any suspicion of the presence of bloodsuckers in linen or clothing, it is necessary to thoroughly wash at high temperature or boil. And those fabrics that cannot be boiled, simply hang out on the street for two weeks.

Can lice live under the scalp?

Despite the fact that there is an opinion about subcutaneous lice, in fact, they do not exist in nature. And under the skin live scabies mites, which parasitize only in the subcutaneous areas of a person. Unlike head parasites, the itch mite selects places on the body where hair does not grow, finding very delicate areas of the skin. Most often this is the interdigital area, the groin and armpits, the lower abdomen and sides of the chest. Ticks are excreted by completely different drugs that are used not only externally, but also internally.

Prevention of re-infection

Change bedding frequently (at least once a week).
Observe body hygiene, wash your hair regularly.
Use a personal towel only.
Eliminate questionable sex.
Keep underwear clean.
Periodically inspect the head and body areas covered with hair.
Do not use other people's hats and clothing.
Remove excess body hair.
Refuse to visit swimming pools, saunas, baths in which sanitary standards are not observed.
Use only an individual hair comb at home and away.
Wash clothes and bed linen with special means, dry well and iron them with a hot iron.

The presence of nits indicates a head lice infection. This is a dangerous disease that must be treated quickly so that no serious consequences arise. The disease is transmitted by household, as well as sexually. You can get rid of lice eggs with the help of folk remedies or pharmacy preparations; combing out with a comb gives a good effect. Several preventive measures must be taken to prevent re-infection.

Disorder at night.
Decreased concentration of attention.
Anxiety.
Violation of the integrity of the skin and the appearance of purulent wounds on them.
Rough skin - the insect injects a substance under the skin that reduces blood clotting.If the bite hits the same place several times, there is an excess accumulation of melanin. The area of the skin coarsens, changes its color, begins to peel off.
Allergy to saliva and other insect waste products.
Folliculitis, eczema - the result of scratching bites.

Lice are carriers of Volyn fever, tularemia, typhoid. Of course, at present, these diseases are very rare, but they still should not be ruled out.

Important! Lice do not tolerate diseases such as AIDS and viral hepatitis.

The appearance and features of the insect

The main danger that threatens people when in contact with lice is the risk of contracting typhus. Insects are carriers of this disease. In order to timely determine the presence of parasites, it is necessary to understand in more detail their eating habits, behavioral characteristics, and study the way of life.

What does a head louse look like?

Special outgrowths on the paws help the parasite move through the hair

The parasites are distinguished by a light brown body color, but they are able to disguise themselves under the surrounding conditions (the color of the host's hair), while the color changes to a darker one. These insects are small in size: from 2 to 4 mm. Nits are much smaller - within 0.7-0.8 mm.

These formations are visible on the scalp due to the white color. However, they can be easily confused with dandruff. The head louse larva is called a nymph. Parasites at this stage of development are even smaller: from 0.7 to 2 mm. The larvae are distinguished by a transparent body.

The number of legs is 3 pairs. The body is segmented, with antennae on the head. The paws are located closer to the head, for this reason, the abdomen appears larger. Head lice are characterized by the absence of wings, which means that they cannot fly, as well as jump. However, these insects move quickly. This is facilitated by the pincer-shaped segments on the legs. After saturation, the body takes on a red tint.

These are small insects, most of their life are on the head closer to the hair roots

Lifestyle and eating habits

It is no coincidence that human lice get started. These parasites have adapted to living conditions on the scalp, making it difficult for them to move to other parts of the body. In addition, this is where lice can easily hide in case of danger. These insects live closer to the skin. Nits are often found on hair.

The food source for parasites is human blood. To get it, head lice pierce the skin, and at the same time the blood vessel. The greatest difficulty for these insects is that the vessels are not equally accessible in all areas. However, over the course of evolution, the parasites have identified the most vulnerable spots: in the neck area, behind the ears. Here they should be looked for first of all.

At a time, the parasite sucks about 0.5 mg of blood, and feeds every 4-5 hours.

The frequency of meals is every 4-5 hours. In this case, in one approach, the insect sucks out 0.5 mg of blood. The process is facilitated by a special enzyme, which the parasite introduces at the stage of puncturing the human skin with the proboscis. Due to this possibility, the rate of blood clotting decreases. This is the cause of allergic reactions after a bite: redness, itching. Waste products are easy to see on the scalp - these are small black dots.

How do lice breed?

Insects form egg-laying on human hair. On average, an adult head louse is capable of laying about 120 eggs during its life. Considering that the life span of an insect is no more than 40 days, the female reproduces 3-4 eggs daily. The incubation period lasts 5 days, the nymph develops to an adult in 10-15 days, which is determined by the living conditions. So, the lower the temperature, the longer the process of insect development takes.

Nits are white and due to the constant hair growth, they become more noticeable over time.

Signs of infestation with head lice

Head lice is a disease caused by head lice. Its prevalence is quite high. Therefore, each person needs to know what symptoms should be paid attention to in the first place, what head lice look like.

The first sign of infection is severe itching. Its appearance is due to an enzyme that the parasite secretes. Most people are allergic to it. At the initial stage, itching is perceived by many as a reaction to shampoo or the development of a skin disease (for example, seborrhea). To determine the source of unpleasant sensations, you should pay attention to its localization. If the head itches behind the ears, we can safely talk about head lice. Head lice are clearly visible on examination.

Another symptom is the presence of nits. Insect eggs are attached directly to the hair. They are white, which only makes it easier to find. They are sometimes confused with dandruff. However, nits are located on the head in the area closer to the neck. In addition, if you try to crush a parasite egg with your nails, a characteristic sound will be heard.

In advanced cases, the hair sticks together, tangles are formed. Due to constant scratching, the course of the disease can be complicated by furunculosis or other pustular lesions. If untreated, lymphadenitis develops, lymph nodes in the neck and ears enlarge and become inflamed.

To diagnose the disease "head lice", it is necessary to identify a number of symptoms. As a rule, these are:

Reduced immunity.
Increased sleepiness.
Chronic fatigue.
Depression.
Frequent headaches and spasmodic pains of internal organs.

do not use other people's personal hygiene products for the head and jewelry (towels, combs, combs, hairpins);
observe hygiene;
systematically check all family members for head lice infections;
do not wear other people's hats.

Signs of head lice appear literally in the first days of infection. Since the louse feeds exclusively on blood, the first and most persistent symptom is itchy skin. After a couple of days, a red speck appears at the site of the itching.

If a person does not know about the appearance of the disease or for some reason postpones the fight against head lice, the disease continues to progress, and crusts may appear at the site of scratching, often with the addition of a secondary infection.

Nits in the hair are a sure sign of head lice. They can be both alive and dead. Viable nits have a whitish tint, and when mechanically pressed, they make a sound that resembles a click. Dead nits look dry and dull. The nits are firmly attached to the hair structure, and force is required to remove them.

The diagnosis of this disease is simple: a visual examination is carried out for head lice, in which the presence of lice and nits on the head is quite difficult to miss.

How to destroy

If there are signs of hair lice infestation, you should see a dermatologist. The specialist will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment with effective means.

Therefore, for a complete cure, the treatment is carried out several times, while carefully combing the hair with a special comb with frequent teeth. Such a comb is often used with medicines.

Professional remedies

Pediculosis is treated at home, carefully following the recommendations specified in the instructions. The composition of anti-lice preparations includes substances that destroy parasites and are not dangerous to humans.

Methods for the destruction of head lice.

These drugs are available in the form of a cream, shampoo, spray, lotion:

Nittifor;
Foxilon;
Pedilin;
Paranitis;
Hygia;
Nyuda;
Parazidol +;
A couple plus.

The drug is applied to the hair, put on a plastic bag to enhance the effect. Wash off the product after 1.2-5 hours

It is important to strictly observe the time indicated in the instructions so as not to damage the scalp. After one such procedure, all adults die, but nits may remain.

To get rid of them, re-treatment is necessary after 6-7 days.

If a person is not prone to allergic reactions, then you can use agents with a stronger effect - spray, lotion, cream. But it should be borne in mind that sprays are contraindicated for people who suffer from respiratory diseases with a chronic and acute course.

Professional anti-pediculosis drugs should not be used by pregnant women, since these drugs contain toxic substances. During pregnancy, it is worth using traditional medicine.

Simultaneously with the treatment of the head, it is necessary to process clothes, pillows, bedding, accessories, since nits may remain on them, which will lead to re-infection.

Traditional methods

To combat lice, you can use traditional medicine: tar soap, vinegar, hellebore water, kerosene. Some drugs are used as an additional measure to the treatment of pharmaceutical drugs. Tar soap, which includes birch tar, is considered such a remedy.

Tar soap is an effective way to get rid of lice and nits.

The soap is applied to washed hair. Carefully clean the back of the head and the skin behind the ears. Cover the head with a bag and wrap it with a towel.

It is kept for 1 hour, after which it is thoroughly washed. The dried curls are distributed into small strands so that it is convenient to comb them with a special comb, and the nits are carefully combed out.

Soap treatment is performed every day until the complete disappearance of the parasites. Additionally, they disinfect things, bed linen, hygiene items.

For the treatment of head lice, hellebore water is often used, which contains the poisonous plant hellebore Lobel. The treatment is carried out in the same way as when using soap, only after application, the product is kept for 30 minutes, after which it is washed with shampoo.

Coloring is carried out in a standard way, the paint is kept for at least 30 minutes. After a while, the procedure is repeated.

Table vinegar 9% is considered good, but when using it, it is necessary to observe the exact proportions - 1 part of water is taken for 2 parts of vinegar. Using a cotton swab, the solution is applied to the hair so that the vinegar does not get on the skin. Cover with a bag and incubate for 1 hour, wash the hair and comb it out with a comb.

Another remedy against parasites is kerosene, which has been used in folk medicine for a long time.

At home, you can try to remove lice with kerosene.

Take kerosene and shampoo in a ratio of 1 to 1. Apply the mixture to the hair and stand for 1 hour, rinse, dry and use a comb. After 7 days, the procedure is repeated.

How long does it take to get rid of lice

Getting rid of nits is more difficult. They are fixed to the hair with a sticky mass that is secreted. The louse lays its eggs close to the skin. In any pharmacy, many products are sold that get rid of parasites. If lice are found on the scalp of a child, then when buying a drug that relieves them, you should follow several rules:

The product must be appropriate for the child's age.
Lice sprays can be used by non-allergic people for several days.
It is better to use drugs that cause dehydration in insects.
For preventive purposes, it is necessary to wash the laundry. Parasites in small quantities can also live there.

Nits are the most difficult for humans. Living practically on the scalp, they are difficult to destroy. It will hardly be possible to do this in a few days.

It is necessary to comb out the nits with a frequent comb, and the medicine against them must be applied in strict accordance with the instructions for use. The product should be left on the head for as long as indicated in the instructions. And after a while, comb the hair, removing dead individuals. After that, rinse your hair and treat it with a 2% vinegar solution. This formulation removes the sticky mass by which nits are attached to the scalp. For some time, it is necessary to comb the hair every day and remove the remaining eggs. If, when combing, live individuals are found, this means that the instructions for use were not followed or the product does not work properly. A week after using the lice remedy, you must comb your hair thoroughly. If nits are found again, you must first repeat the entire procedure for their elimination.

Symptoms of subcutaneous lice or scabies

Subcutaneous lice in humans appear upon contact with infected objects, the skin of a sick person. The incubation period lasts about 2 weeks. But from the very first days, you can notice the symptoms of subcutaneous lice.

Scabies begins with skin lesions between the fingers. Intolerable itching appears, which intensifies in the evening, progresses at night. At this time, the scabies mite is especially active.
Liquid-filled bubbles appear on the affected area. After scratching, wounds remain, moves are visible.
As the disease progresses, the extent of the damage to the body spreads. The pathological process involves the arms, legs, neck, abdomen, back, genitals, face. Lice do not live under the scalp.
The body becomes covered with a small rash, large red blisters appear in some places. Manifestations on the buttocks are clearly visible.
The skin is thickened in the affected areas, there is swelling of the hands.

The lack of measures leads to the addition of a secondary infection, complicating the situation.

Why are parasites dangerous?

You can identify the presence of parasites in yourself by several signs:

Itchy scalp. Itching intensifies when a person is at rest, in the late afternoon. Itching of the back of the head and temporal regions, favorite places of sewn-in bites.
Bluish spots. Small bruises remain after bloodsucker bites.
Combed places. With severe itching, small wounds remain at the sites of parasite bites, indicating their presence.

Almost invisible insects do great harm to humans. Sensitive people and young children get nervous disorders, sleep and mood disorders.

Insects do not tolerate dangerous ailments that are transmitted through the blood. We are talking about AIDS, hepatitis and others.

However, typhoid can be attributed to diseases spread by human head lice. In the stomach of the parasites, favorable conditions are created for the growth and further reproduction of certain microorganisms. These include the causative agents of typhus and relapsing fever. They are not transmitted to humans with a bite, as many think.

What lice and nits look like

Lice and nits

Cootie. She is attracted by the human smell, she is not able to live on the body. The parasite lives in folds of clothes, bedding.
Pubic louse. Can live where coarse hair grows - eyelashes, mustache, pubis, armpits.
Head lice and nits. They live only on the head of a person.

Those who are faced with a disease such as head lice are beginning to wonder how long lice live without food. Each species is different in this regard from each other:

The head dies after 2 days without human blood. The nit will go through its life cycle completely, but the hatched larva, not finding food, can only live for an hour.
The pubic view won't last more than four hours. The egg will develop until it is time for the nymph to hatch, which will immediately die.

It is believed that lice feed on hair or sebum. But their diet is based on blood.The mouth apparatus of insects is adapted only for piercing the thin human skin and sucking out iron-containing liquid.

Lice outside the head can receive food on other parts of the body, but then return to their usual habitat. Therefore, they live in the hair and prefer to eat in the back of the neck, behind the ears, at the temples.

Feline parasites

How long do lice live outside the head? Situations may occur when, for some reason, the parasite is separated from its "carrier" (it will be combed out, remain on personal hygiene items, etc.). Thus, if in the shortest possible time the louse does not have the opportunity to return to the head of a person, it will be left without food.

Regarding the survival of parasites outside the usual environment or where the lice live, besides the head, there are a number of frequently asked questions:

Is it possible for lice to live without a person, for example, on another animal? The head louse is not able to live anywhere in nature, except for the human head (except for the rare cases with monkeys, which have already been mentioned). Therefore, it is impossible to infect pets with these bloodsuckers or to become infected from them yourself.
How long do lice live on clothes? It happens that the combed out louse ends up outside the head, for example, on clothes, where its lifespan will also be on average 2 days. But to a greater extent, this question refers to body lice, which live on clothes (in the seams and folds), "visiting" the human body for food.
Can lice live in pillows? Exactly to live - no, but to exist for several hours is quite. Lice can end up on the pillow if they crawl onto it from the head of an infected person. Having remained there, the parasites will hold out for some time, waiting for the person's head to fall back on the pillow, after which they will return to their homeland. Therefore, to the question of whether lice live in bedding in general and on pillows in particular, there is only one answer: even dressing bloodsuckers are incapable of this, not to mention head ones, due to the periodic long absence of a person in bed.
Do lice live on colored hair? Modern hair dyes often contain hydrogen peroxide, which is already toxic to lice. Many individuals may die, however, a sufficient number of individuals (especially nits) will remain alive, so hair dyeing cannot be called rampant harassment. Surviving parasites will continue to actively breed, and the senselessness of their destruction in this way will be obvious.

Head lice crawl through dyed hair

Head lice nit on a hair

From all that has been described, it is clear that man is the only habitat for head lice, and without him it cannot exist.

Having found out whether these parasites can live without a person, it remains to understand how to protect yourself from lice:

avoid close contact in crowded places;
do not wear other people's hats;
do not use other people's personal hygiene items (towels, combs, etc.);
avoid contact with infected people;
Check your children's heads more often for lice infestations;
observe hygiene.

When these simple conditions are fulfilled, the chances of becoming the breadwinners of bloodsuckers will significantly decrease.

How to protect yourself from infection

Having found out how long lice live outside of a person, a number of rules have been formed, observing them you can not be afraid of contracting head lice.

it is not recommended to use other people's hats, caps and hats; other people's combs and other accessories, where lice live for a long time, cannot be used, disinfection is necessary; hygiene rules must be observed; try not to be with strangers at a short distance; avoid contact with people infected with head lice; be especially vigilant in public places such as transport; it is important to check the heads of children as they carry head lice.

Now that it is known how many lice live separately from the human body, as well as where and under what conditions they are comfortable, it remains to follow the rules, thereby reducing the risk of being infected.

There is another danger - swimming in water. Of course, lakes and rivers are not completely infested with these parasites, but in the warm season, insects can live in public reservoirs for several days until they find a new host.

The life of an insect is short, even in the neighborhood of a person, so there is no need to talk about their long existence separately from the human body. However, the fear of being infected does not leave people behind. This happens often due to insufficient awareness of the population, and ignorance of how long a louse lives separately from a person.

Lice living outside the head

Lice survive only at the expense of their host, on which they parasitize. Can and how long do lice live outside of a person? Each insect species can only live on a specific mammal.

The human head louse will never parasitize on horses. Just like those insects that live on animals will never pass to humans.

Blood-sucking insects often feed on small portions, and females bite more often than males, but how many lice can live without a person?

A head louse deprived of nutrition in the environment can exist without a person for about 2 days, more precisely, about 55 hours - that's the whole period how long lice live without a person.

Louse without food

Therefore, head lice live without food outside the human body at a favorable temperature for no more than 55 hours. They are able to stay on pillows, clothing, personal hygiene items, etc. So they wait for the new owner to get blood.

The peculiarity of parasites is that they are not able to jump or fly high. But they can quickly crawl from one place to another in search of food. Insects are able to travel 50 cm in a minute.

When the temperature drops to 10 ° C, adults slow down and hibernate. Their existence on any hard surface lasts a week or a little longer. Lice live without a person in fresh water for up to 4 days in warm weather, but during a cold snap they can wait 15 days.

Some people believe that lice live outside the human head on animals. There are several nuances that support and refute this theory:

The lice present on cats and dogs have a different focus. They feed on the top layer of skin and hair, and reproduce only on wool. Transmission of parasites to humans is impossible. Head lice that live on humans do not breed on the wool of cats and dogs, therefore their habitation on these animals outside the human body is excluded.
In a laboratory environment, lice live without a person on selected species of monkeys with a similar hair structure. Scientists specially plant insects for them for further study. In some laboratories, parasites are fed with rat blood.

In accordance with the temperature regime and the usual period of development, nits live without a person. They can leave their heads only with lost hair or when combing them out. The duration of their life outside the head in the absence of blood does not change - 5 days in the warm and 12 days in the cold. Destruction of eggs is possible with the use of physical force and under the action of some aggressive substances.

Head lice (lice): causes, symptoms (itching, scratching), stages

The most common questions about the life of lice

People are concerned about about the same questions regarding the life of these insects. The most common ones are:

How many lice live on a person's head - they usually die a month after their appearance. If a living parasite finds itself without a person at room temperature, it must find another victim within 24 hours.If the temperature is low, the pest hibernates.
Do lice live in bedding - this can happen to an unclean person. The dressing species prefers to live in folds of clothing close to the body, but the insect can move to the bed and bed. It is not for nothing that the parasite in everyday life is called linen lice. If the bedding is changed, it will not stay there.

Linen lice
Can lice live on the couch - the answer to this question will not be different from the previous one. Furniture is not the place where the insect builds a "home". He needs a constant source of power.

If at least one head lice has been noticed, the hair should be carefully checked and treated. The parasite is small and difficult to detect. Having found a mate for itself, one individual will quickly breed.

Although insects are not characterized by a long life cycle, they cause a lot of problems to humans. Because of them, you have to limit yourself in communication and endure many inconveniences. Luckily, getting rid of lice is easy enough. To do this, use pharmaceutical pediculicidal drugs or folk remedies.

How many lice can live outside the human body

Head lice

Ectoparasites cannot live long outside the head, they are completely unfit and cannot live long without a person and food, and lice feed on almost continuously. In general, they are distinguished by gluttony, and some of them even die from overeating. Blood-sucking insects from the head will not survive two days without food.
The parasites have perfectly adapted to this habitat. The belly of the insect, the shape of the body and legs for capturing the hairs are adapted for comfortable living on the human body. Also, their reproductive organs have adapted to it: the female, moving along the hair, attaches the egg cocoon with an adhesive composition. As a result, immediately after birth, the larva immediately falls on the skin and begins to actively feed.

Nits living in their shell are not independent insects.

They develop in a strong chitinous shell, therefore, without a person, they can retain the ability to develop for a long time. Even dead nits, firmly attached to the hair, can remain on the head for several years until the hair is cut.

If the lice have not been poisoned with insecticidal preparations and do not accidentally fall off the head, then the nymph develops within 15-20 days, and the adult up to 40-45 days. Thus, the head can live for about 2 months. Although they quickly die, they manage to leave behind numerous offspring.

Pubic lice

Pubic parasites live less than head parasites - only six weeks, but during this time they also have time to breed. The determining factor is the ambient temperature. In hot conditions, the maturation cycle is accelerated and the cooler, the longer the development of parasites takes. Pubic louse is less hardy, it feeds every 3-4 hours and after 8-9 hours without food dies if it does not get to the human body. They can survive in water for 2 days, so they can be transmitted from person to person in baths, swimming pools or on the river.

Clothing insects

Without a human body or head, ectoparasites can live only on their clothes. Body lice cannot parasitize on the head, but

adapted to life on linen. They have a different structure of the legs, with which they confidently hold on to any things made of fabric. Here they mate, lay nits, and crawl onto the human body for feeding. They can be infected through clothing and underwear recently used by an infected person.

Adults live for about 40 days, and without a human body - up to 3-4 days. Parasites, although they live on clothes, and not on the human body, still feed on his blood. If a person does not put on clothes, then they die, since they absolutely cannot stand hunger, which makes them different from other parasitic insects.

All types of lice are not long-lived and cannot exist for a long time without a person.

To get rid of uninvited guests, they must first be weakened with anti-lice preparations, and then combed out and preventive measures taken, and more than once.

Traditional methods of treatment

To completely get rid of canine lice, it is necessary to treat the pet with special preparations in several stages. Traditional medicine can only be used as part of a set of therapeutic measures.

Popular folk remedies:

rosemary;
sagebrush;
tansy;
geranium;
eucalyptus.

Decoctions and infusions are prepared from these herbs. For 1 liter of boiled water, take 20 grams. dry grass or 40-50 gr. chopped freshly harvested. Cook in a water bath for 25-30 minutes. Cover and cool, filter. The product is applied to the animal's coat without rinsing. Processing is carried out once every three days for a month. Can be used as a preventive measure.

There are various treatments for head lice for children. Distinguish between chemical methods, physical methods and mechanical methods

It is extremely important to treat it immediately after detection.

You can also treat head lice at home. The difficulty lies in the fact that it is not always possible to exterminate adults and nits completely. In addition, the methods of treatment depend on what form of the disease.

Pubic lice are considered the easiest to kill. It is enough just to shave off the hair in the pubic areas and treat with ointment. Boric can be used. This will help prevent the person from contracting the infection and improve treatment.

The situation is more complicated with body lice. To exterminate this type of lice, you should boil or treat clothes and linen with a disinsection agent. This is how this type of lice is treated

Pay special attention to seams and folds. This is the source of the parasite

Experts advise leaving things in the sun for a week. This is due to the fact that the parasites are completely removed from the tissues. A person needs to undergo treatment with a special drug against head lice.

Body lice live in clothes

First of all, you must follow the instructions. Only 1 drug should be used so as not to cause allergic reactions in the patient due to the high content of toxic substances. It is enough to apply the purchased product only once. If the affected areas are subjected to repeated treatment with the drug, then the risk of developing intoxication is high.

The room where there is a person infected with head lice must be regularly ventilated.

Before starting the treatment of the scalp, a bandage should be put on the patient to avoid getting the drug on the face and eyes.

It is forbidden to use ordinary shampoos or balms without first applying a medicinal product, since after their use a thin film forms on the skin, preventing the penetration of medicinal products onto the upper layer of the skin.

During the incubation period and during the treatment of the disease, it is not recommended to use a hair dryer to dry your hair.

Vinegar is a very popular remedy for removing nits and lice. It is necessary to take vinegar 9%, dilute with water in equal proportions and apply to hair, then put a plastic cap on your head and leave for a while. To accelerate the effect, salt and rubbing alcohol can be added to the vinegar, however, such a mixture is strictly forbidden to use for those who have ulcers and wounds on the head.

It is recommended to use tar soap to wash your hair. It contains alkali, which negatively affects the lice. At the same time, natural tar has a beneficial effect on the scalp.

First of all, lice cause constant itching in the dog with their bites. This action is typical for all types of parasites, including lice. Your dog may show the following symptoms:

Intense hair loss;
Severe allergies;
Dermatitis;
Anemia, with an advanced stage of infection;
Exhaustion;
The appearance of helminths.

It is extremely dangerous when lice appear in puppies. Parasites can cause stunted growth and development. If you notice such parasites in a dog, then you must immediately begin a course of treatment.

Dogs become infected much more often than cats, as they spend most of their time outdoors. With close contact, lice are transmitted from an infected individual to a healthy one. It is extremely difficult to avoid such an interaction, because the carrier of the pest can be any dog that the owner has not followed. You yourself can infect an animal by bringing in particles of an infected animal's fur from the street.

It is quite simple to conclude that no one is immune from such negativity and the best way to avoid such a problem is prevention. Purchase a special flea and lice collar for your dog and wear it periodically during walks. The likelihood of infection will be minimized and the owner can be calm about his beloved dog.

How many lice live outside a person

The disease is easy to recognize by pronounced itching, bites. Regardless of how long and in what part of the body lice live, they notice that in a short cycle the bloodsuckers manage to raise a new generation.

Knowing that ectoparasite is associated with humans, the question arises, how long do lice live outside the victim's head. It depends on the temperature. With an indicator of 23-27 ° C, the production period reaches 3-4 days. If the degree rises to 30 and above, then the maximum existence is reduced to 1 day.

In many ways, how long adult lice live outside a person's head depends on the need for food. At low temperatures, parasites go into suspended animation. The processes slow down, the bloodsucker lasts longer, but how long lice live when frozen outside the head depends on the temperature. The indicator -10 ° C increases the period by 10-14 days.

Life cycle

In areas of a large crowd of people, it is easy to become infected with head lice, it is enough for 1 adult to transfer to the victim's body. The victim may not notice the ectoparasite, because the length of the bloodsucker does not exceed 3 mm, the color fluctuates in shades of brown and gray, making the parasite inconspicuous.

Head insects feed on blood. Bloodsuckers lack wings, but thanks to 6 legs, individuals run perfectly.

The entire life cycle of a head bloodsucker is 30-40 days. Immediately, the adult female lays 2-5 eggs, which are tightly held by a special paste near the hair roots. They are difficult to wash off, comb out. When the incubation period has passed, a small individual appears, after the first meal, the bloodsucker undergoes molting.

This is required in order to shed the shell, which is unable to grow on a par with the individual. When the period ends, the bloodsucker becomes an adult, begins to multiply. Eggs appear a few hours after the end of mating.

On the human body, the parasite lives for 30-45 days, lays 100-150 eggs. Without people, food, adults die in a few days. Bloodsuckers need food 4-6 times a day.

In a suitable environment, the ability to function outside the head lasts 3-4 days. Without a portion of a person's blood at birth, the parasites will die immediately. Away from food, lice, nits live as long as there is enough supply to stretch out without food.

Stages of development

Knowing how many days head lice live, they divide the period into several phases:

Egg. The first stage takes 1-2 weeks, depending on environmental conditions - humidity, temperature.
Larva. Hatching from eggs, able to breathe. The collected air at the bottom of the nit pupa pushes the creature outward. The bloodsucker is taken to search for food, after a day it moves on to the next stage.
Level 1 nymph. Immature insect. The reproductive organs have not yet completely finished forming.
Nymph of the second level.
Nymph of the third age.
Imago. Fully adult insect with formed organs, capable of reproduction.

Danger of lice for dogs

Parasites that live on the body of dogs have a yellow-gray color and are small in size in the range of 0.4-0.6 mm. The insect has an oblong body with a large abdominal region, a small chest and a head, on which two simple eyes may be present in the form of age spots. In some parasites, the organs of vision may be completely absent, and orientation in space is due to special villi on the body, which act as organs of touch. All types of lice have a piercing-sucking mouth apparatus.

The lips form a retractable proboscis with two stylet jaws that easily pierce the skin of the animal. The end of the proboscis is crowned with special fastening hooks, which ensure reliable adhesion of the parasite to the victim during the process of sucking blood. Adults easily move in the fur of animals, in which they are helped by the hook-shaped ends on the legs.

Frequent neighbors on the pet's body are lice. Insects belong to the same order as lice, they have a similar structure. The only difference is that the parasites feed on the fluff and dead skin scales of the dog.

The fact that lice can be infected after contact with an animal is a myth. Lice are species-specific creatures that can only parasitize one species of creature. Accordingly, if you find out that your animal is infected with lice, you do not have to worry that the parasites will migrate from its fur to your hairline.

As mentioned earlier, lice are found in most mammals, but they can also be found in birds. Let's get acquainted with the features of the treatment of pediculosis in each animal in a little more detail.

Reference! Many anglers have come across such a phenomenon as the carp louse - this is a small and flat crustacean that attaches to the gills with the help of special suction cups and feeds on the blood of fish.

The pig's body is a very extensive breeding ground for lice. Their most frequent victims are individuals of the white breed. You can find insects by carefully examining the body of the animal. Usually they inhabit the softest and warmest areas: auricles, fat folds, armpits. The pork louse is light brown in color. Unlike human, it is rather large - its body can reach 7 mm.

Porcine head lice progresses very quickly - therefore, it is important to notice the disease at an early stage, when the parasites have not yet had time to multiply. The more lice a pig has on the body, the more often it rubs against walls and corners, combing its skin to bloody wounds, which affects its well-being.

Reference! Suckling pigs in the early stages of pediculosis should be treated mechanically (by combing) - this way you can avoid chemical poisoning.

Most often, farmers use the following folk remedies:

Kerosene with vegetable oil is a complex agent. Oil envelops parasites and blocks their airways, while kerosene burns the lice's protective shell. It is used as an ointment until the complete destruction of parasites every 7 days.
Tar with green soap. Used instead of shampoo rinse. For a liter of hot water, you need to dilute 10 grams of soap and 100 grams of birch tar.

If you see that the pig is not feeling well (does not move, breathes often, refuses to eat), consult your veterinarian before processing. Otherwise, you can only make the situation worse.

As for prevention, the rules are as follows:

keep the pigsty clean;
provide good lighting;
avoid humid air and dampness.

Pigeon lice are a problem that may be familiar to those who keep a dovecote or live under an attic where wild birds nest. These are small insects, with a flattened body colored dark brown.Unlike mammalian lice, bird parasites have 3 pairs of limbs, with the help of which they can not only move along the plumage, but also jump from one individual to another.

Reference! Lice deliver the greatest discomfort to pigeons at the time of incubation of eggs - they force the birds to explode from the clutch, which can ultimately lead to the death of the brood.

Their presence can be determined by the following features:

the pigeon often cleans feathers with its beak or pulls them out;
the feathery takes dusty baths or bathes in water more often than usual.

Treatment should be started in the early stages - when profuse baldness has not yet begun. Some people use folk remedies for this purpose - laundry soap, DUST or essential oils. But, as a rule, they do not bring the desired effect. To eliminate parasites, it is advisable to use insecticidal preparations in the form of a spray or gel. The most popular are:

Front Line;
Piren-D;
Iwamek;

It is necessary to process all the birds from the dovecote, and after processing, carry out a general cleaning and thoroughly clean all the perches and resting places.

You can suspect head lice in a guinea pig by the following signs:

Thinness. Due to the continuous itching, the animal loses its appetite and quickly loses weight. And since rodents have a very fast metabolism, a hunger strike of this kind can be fatal.
Bald spots on the coat. The hair of the guinea pig becomes stiff, clumped and sparse. In long-haired animals, wool often falls into icicles.
Nervousness - the pig is constantly running, grunting, shaking its ears and jumping up and down. In some cases, she can begin to roll on her back, trying to shake off the parasites.
Damaged skin. Wounds, abrasions, inflammation and suppuration are the consequences of numerous parasite bites.

The first thing you should do in this case is to contact your veterinarian for the selection of medicines. As a rule, a specialist prescribes the same remedies that are used to treat cats and dogs (Frontline, Gamma, Rolf club).

Important! Despite the fact that all of the above antiparasitic drugs are sold in the public domain - do not buy them before consulting your doctor. Guinea pigs are sensitive to chemicals - it is very important to find the correct dosage of the drug.

Cleaning the cage is no less important: immediately wash it with disinfectants, rinse bowls and drinkers thoroughly with boiling water, and replace the bedding with a new one. Also, it will not be superfluous to buy a new filler - it is quite possible that the parasites were wound up in it.

If you have several guinea pigs in the same cage, immediately quarantine the infected one and examine the fur of other pets for nits and adult lice.

Bird lice are very different from mammalian parasites. They feed on dead cells of the epidermis and soft, downy feathers. What is even more important: unlike the usual lice, they can jump from individual to individual and live without a carrier for a rather long time.

To save your pet from suffering, you will have to carry out a long and multi-stage pest control:

Cell processing - for this purpose, drugs such as Neocidol, Butox or Prometrin are suitable. Then, in order to remove the specific smell of chemistry, the cage should be washed with a solution of vinegar or baking soda. If the cage is made of chipboard or plywood, it is better to throw it away and replace it with a new one, since it is extremely difficult to remove parasites from the tree.
General cleaning of the apartment. Bird lice are very jumpy and tenacious creatures that, for lack of a carrier, prefer to live in warm and dark corners: behind furniture, under tiles, under torn layers of wallpaper. Therefore, immediately after the cage, clean the apartment, paying special attention to these places.
Parrot processing. The most important and crucial stage. Observe the dosage carefully and make sure that the drug does not get into the eyes or beak of the bird.First, treat the skin - Ivomek or Frontline are suitable for this. Then start processing the plumage using such tools as Piren-D or Anostomazan.

If you prefer to use folk recipes, then pay attention to warm baths with soda solution or wormwood. You can pour the liquid into the bath (if the parrot loves water procedures) or rinse its feathers yourself.

Most often, rabbits bred for meat suffer from the invasion. That is - contained in cells for several individuals. But there are also cases when, due to inadequate living conditions, lice are also found in ornamental pets. In both the first and second cases, the animal suffers from a parasite of the species Haematopinus ventricosus.

Rabbit lice are quite small - from 1.2 to 1.5 mm. They differ from human parasites in a flattened, ovoid shape, where the head is several times smaller than the chest. The color of hungry lice is pale yellow, with a reddish tint after being saturated with blood. Most often they are localized in the area of the hock joint and the outer side of the thighs. With a more extensive infestation, the lice move to the back and withers.

Reference! In very rare cases, lice can be transmitted to humans from a rabbit. But this only happens if the animal is seriously ill and this is reflected in the chemical composition of its blood. As a rule, such parasites do not last long on the human body.

The following drugs are used to treat infestation in rabbits:

Inseral (insecticidal powder);
Butox (gel);
Bio Kill (spray).

As for folk remedies, rabbit breeders recommend using dusty soap, tar soap or dusty ash baths. It is important to take into account that the effectiveness of these drugs has not been clinically proven.

Fortunately, these small rodents are not often annoyed by lice. The exception is when hamsters live in 5-10 individuals in improper conditions. They can be detected according to the same signs as in a guinea pig: the animal becomes nervous, irritable, and despite all its passivity during the day, it begins to hiss for no reason, jump in place and itch.

This type of insect needs permanent housing, namely human hair. But despite this, the louse can live on its own, however, in such conditions, its life is significantly reduced to a duration of four days. This will be facilitated by external factors, the air temperature should be no less and no more than 23 degrees, rather than it will not survive at all.

Pharmacy remedies

The principle of lice treatment is based on the elimination of lice and the prevention of their further reproduction. For these purposes, special preparations are used in the following forms:

shampoos;
aerosols;
lotions;
sprays.

Shampoos are recognized as less effective from those listed above. Their action is aimed at deep penetration into the body of the parasite, as a result of which the insects die. The most popular are Pedilin and Parasidosis. The product must be applied to damp hair and left for 10-15 minutes. After that, the shampoo must be washed off, and the hair must be combed with a comb. This procedure should be repeated once a week. Anti-lice shampoo should only be used as directed by your doctor. Pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under 3 years old, it is better to refuse its use.

How to get rid of head lice not only on the head, but also on clothes? A variety of aerosols are suitable for these purposes (for example, "Para-Plus" and "A-steam"). Some of them are used exclusively for dressing clothes, others can be used to eliminate hair lice.

Aerosol "A-steam" is designed to eliminate insects from clothing. The preparation does not leave stains on the material, and the processed items do not need subsequent washing. However, they cannot be put on immediately. Better to leave to ventilate for several days.It is recommended to handle clothes with an open window. If the product gets on the mucous membranes of the eyes, they should be immediately rinsed under running water. It is forbidden to use hair aerosol, since toxic substances are present in the composition. Also, it should not be sprayed near children, other people with asthma, or pregnant women.

"Para-Plus" is recognized as a safer remedy. The aerosol can be sprayed onto the hair and scalp. After the procedure, you need to take a shower using regular shampoo. Deceased lice and nits should be combed out. Personal care products, linen and clothing can be treated with this agent to prevent re-infection. The instruction does not recommend it for use by children under 2 years of age and persons prone to allergies.

Various sprays ("Paranit", "Nyuda", "Pedikulen Ultra") help well against parasites. The listed drugs have proven themselves on the positive side and are highly effective. They are yellowish oily liquid. It has no characteristic odor. The action of such drugs is aimed at immobilizing insects and rapid death.

"Paranit" instruction recommends to apply on dry hair. After they become a little damp, the product should be continued to rub into the hair roots. In the case of long curls, they must be combed in separate strands. The applied preparation is left for 15 minutes, after which it is washed off with regular shampoo. Remove dead lice and nits with a comb. After that, the head is washed again with Paranit shampoo. If necessary, the procedure should be repeated every 10 days. This remedy is not recommended for use by pregnant and lactating women, children under 3 years old and people with dermatological diseases.

Spray "Nyuda" has a similar effect. It also needs to be applied to dry hair and rubbed into the roots. However, the product must be left on for at least 45 minutes. Over time, the remains of the spray are washed off with shampoo, and the dead parasites are combed out with a comb. The latter is sold together with the drug "Nyuda".

How to treat damaged skin surface?

Damaged skin must be treated with the following formulations:

Lifeguard - the action of the drug is aimed at reducing discomfort, soothing the skin and restoring damaged areas,
The asterisk is a balm that relieves itching and negative symptoms, and also disinfects the wound.

Antihistamine therapy is imperative - not only to prevent an allergic reaction, but to reduce itching and irritation.

Is it possible to get lice without human contact

The problem of head lice is quite common, because many are worried about the question, is it possible to get lice without contact with a person?

The answer to this exciting question is yes. Let's consider the possible ways of infection:

Through wearable things, if they were worn by a person infected with head lice before you.
By using combs and other styling items (especially often in this way, infection occurs in hairdressing salons).
Through scarves and hats previously worn by a person with lice.
Through the exploitation of bed linen in trains and hotels.
Swimming in the river (the parasite lives in fresh water for up to two days).
Activities in the pool (if a person with head lice swam there before you).
Exploitation of common items in kindergarten, camp or school.

Regardless of the habitat, under favorable conditions (air temperature, humidity), the development of nits ends with the appearance of the parasite larva.

Find out more where lice come from, how you can get infected with them, on our website.

There is an opinion that a short-haired person cannot become infected with head lice. This is not entirely true. Even a bald person can get lice. But parasites very quickly leave such a host, since they simply have nothing to catch on to and lay eggs.

The animal quickly becomes infected with fleas, clinging to the wool of parasites from other animals, becoming infected through sand and water. An animal cannot transmit flea nits to a person.

Learn more about head lice with our articles:

how to understand that you have lice, symptoms of the disease;
lice on the eyelashes and eyebrows: causes of their appearance, treatment;
can lice appear on nerves;
what is the danger of lice, the consequences of the disease;
lice remedies for pregnant women;
the incubation period of head lice in humans.

What worms live in the brain

A feature of helminth eggs is the ability to maintain viability for a long time in the environment. Once in the human body, they develop and harm the body by releasing toxins and absorbing nutrients. However, this is not the main danger that awaits a person. By settling in organs, they cause disruption of their work.

Parasites can enter the human body in various ways:

When eating dirty foods (fruits, vegetables, herbs)
Through unwashed hands before eating
From raw water
From infected pets
When eating semi-raw meat or fish.

First of all, helminth eggs enter the digestive tract and are transformed into larvae. As it matures, the parasite can attach itself to the intestinal walls with suction cups. The intestinal mucosa is the optimal habitat for helminths. As a result of their vital activity, parasites secrete enzymes that interfere with normal digestion. In the human body, changes occur, which are manifested by characteristic symptoms.

Parasites move to the brain in various ways:

While in the intestine, parasites can penetrate the walls of venous vessels and enter the general bloodstream. With the blood flow, they spread throughout the body, are attached to the organs, and the brain is no exception.
Parasites can enter the body through the respiratory system. If the parasite enters the nasopharynx, it can easily end up in the brain area.
During bathing, the larva of the parasite can get into the auricle. There it continues to develop and moves to the human brain.

We offer you to familiarize yourself with: Pediculosis in children: what it is, from what appear, how they look, symptoms and treatment of lice and nits in a child, teenager and newborn

Parasites in the brain are of two types - echinococcus and cysticercus.

Where do parasites live?

Ectoparasites constantly arrive in hunger; for productive life and reproduction, they need to eat 4 times a day. Therefore, it is very difficult or even impossible for them to live outside the human head or body of an animal.

Lice feed exclusively on blood or skin. Their lifespan on the head lasts up to 42 days. Sometimes they move to the beard, eyelashes or eyebrows, but an adult is not comfortable living there, so this is extremely rare.

Parasites are completely dependent on body temperature. Their home is the head of a person or the body of an animal. And if they are deprived of this house, then within 2 days they die.

There are several types of lice in animals:

Sucking louse - feeds exclusively on blood;
Biting louse - feeds on skin particles.

Cats can be infested with lice. For many, this reality has become astounding. But it is so. Lice, or they are also called lice, that live on animals in wool do not feed on his blood, but on the skin. Therefore, one of the symptoms of infection will be bald patches or lack of hair on parts of the body.

Dogs are also susceptible to this disease. Parasites cling to hairs and attach to the skin. They feed on blood, sebaceous glands and skin of the victim. The pet suffers from itching and hair loss.

Head lice can cause more serious illnesses. Such as exhaustion or tapeworm. Therefore, animals need urgent treatment.

Can you get lice from contact with animals? Not! The lifestyle of these parasites is significantly different. They are adapted to a higher body temperature than humans.

Pests have a "narrow specialization". Their body structure is such that they cannot settle on another mammal and are not adapted to live on wool. Everyone is used to believing that the parasite can live only on the human body, but few people think about where the lice live except for the head.

Lice types

The insect is divided into three types, depending on the place of life:

Cootie. She is attracted by the human smell, she is not able to live on the body. The parasite lives in folds of clothes, bedding.
Pubic louse. Can live where coarse hair grows - eyelashes, mustache, pubis, armpits.
Head lice and nits. They live only on the head of a person.

Those who are faced with a disease such as head lice are beginning to wonder how long lice live without food. Each species is different in this regard from each other:

The head dies after 2 days without human blood. The nit will go through its life cycle completely, but the hatched larva, not finding food, can only live for an hour.
The pubic view won't last more than four hours. The egg will develop until it is time for the nymph to hatch, which will immediately die.

On the comb. The main means of preventing lice is to observe the rules of personal hygiene. You cannot use other people's combs, towels and try on the hats of his friends on the crumbs. Borrowing your own is also not worth it.

In the pillow. If the baby goes to the kindergarten, explain to him that he should sleep only on his own pillow - in another, evil biting insects can await him.

In toys. Tell the little one that it is better not to pick up soft toys of children from the sandbox or kindergarten. A louse, hiding on a charming teddy bear, is able to wait for a new owner for a day without food.

Lice life cycle

Lice live on the hair of the face and body of a person. Can live:

in the hair;
on the eyelashes;

Lice on the eyelashes
on the pubis;
in the armpits.

Individuals living on the head are different from pubic ones. The latter have more powerful legs and jaws, more often they suck blood. They cannot live without constant food.

During her life, the female lays up to 150 eggs, which are attached to human hair at some distance from the skin. Under favorable conditions, after 5 days, the nit turns into a nymph.

The larva must receive food in the first hour after hatching, otherwise it will not be able to survive. After the first portion of blood, molt occurs, and the pest changes its appearance. But he will become an adult when he changes his chitinous cover two more times.

After the third molt, the adult stage begins. In a few hours, the adult male is ready for breeding, and the female makes her first clutch on human hair.

On a note!
Many are looking for information about how long the nit lives. But this question is incorrect. Nit is only called the egg of the parasite, from which the larva appears after 5-9 days.

The life cycle lasts about a month. The female lays eggs after each feeding. In head lice, it occurs 4 times a day. Pubic, on the other hand, eat every four hours.

How live individuals develop and what they eat

In its development, an adult louse goes through several stages, which in total can last for 2-4 weeks:

Stage 1 - the female louse lays eggs (nits) approximately 1 mm in size.
Stage 2 - the larva hatches (this happens about 9 days after the egg appears). Its size is 1.5 mm. This is the first stage of the nymph.
Stage 3 - the second stage of the nymph begins (1.75 mm).
Stage 4 - the third stage of the nymph (2 mm).
Stage 5 - the appearance of an adult male (2.4-3.6 mm) or female (2.3-3 mm).

IMPORTANT. It should be borne in mind that female lice are very fertile and lay 5 eggs (nits) on their hair every day.

Having noticed the first signs of the disease, you must immediately start treatment.

Live lice are parasitic and feed on human blood. In this case, the larvae begin to parasitize immediately after leaving the egg. They need to eat every 2 hours to grow. An adult individual, on the other hand, requires a minimum amount of blood to maintain life.

Differences between lice and fleas

In an insect, due to a parasitic lifestyle, wings are reduced, which are attached to the hair of the host organism through single-membered legs. Under a microscope, they look like small beetles. Features of life:

Strongly developed salivary glands. A substance is released that prevents blood from clotting and causes severe itching.
Rapid reproduction. Several hundred eggs hatch after 8 days at temperatures between 23 ° C and 44 ° C. But in unfavorable conditions they die.
The eggs are in a sticky substance that causes hair to clump and felle.
It is guided by smells, the insect has no eyes.

The danger of the parasite is that it carries dangerous diseases, for example, typhus. The mobility of nits is extremely limited: if the fleas are actively jumping, then the lice settle on the host and no longer move. infection occurs through close contact.

Is it possible to get lice without human contact

The problem of head lice is quite common, because many are worried about the question, is it possible to get lice without contact with a person?

The answer to this exciting question is yes. Let's consider the possible ways of infection:

Through wearable things, if they were worn by a person infected with head lice before you.
By using combs and other styling items (especially often in this way, infection occurs in hairdressing salons).
Through scarves and hats previously worn by a person with lice.
Through the exploitation of bed linen in trains and hotels.
Swimming in the river (the parasite lives in fresh water for up to two days).
Activities in the pool (if a person with head lice swam there before you).
Exploitation of common items in kindergarten, camp or school.

Regardless of the habitat, under favorable conditions (air temperature, humidity), the development of nits ends with the appearance of the parasite larva.

Interesting fact. An adult louse travels a distance of 50 cm in one minute. This ability to move quickly helps parasites quickly run from one person to another, even without close contact.

The animal quickly becomes infected with fleas, clinging to the wool of parasites from other animals, becoming infected through sand and water. An animal cannot transmit flea nits to a person.

Learn more about head lice thanks to our articles:

Ways to kill lice

There are several ways to get rid of lice, but you need to understand that this is unlikely to work out once. After all, even leaving one egg unnoticed, the problem comes back again.

You can fight on your own, and with the help of a sanitary and epidemiological station. Self-control methods:

mechanical combing;
processing with special means;
cutting hair.

The appearance of lice is an unpleasant event for every person. This is not only the discomfort caused by the "new residents", but also the danger of infection of others. What kind of ailment is this, how to deal with it, is it possible to avoid infection and how long do lice and nits live outside the head?

Head lice prevention is fairly straightforward. It boils down to the observance of basic rules of personal hygiene. Owners of long hair on public transport are advised to make a ponytail or tuck their hair under a hat.Also, do not use extraneous hats, towels, hygiene items, combs.

If the infection could not be avoided, it is necessary to prevent the further spread of head lice. It is necessary to boil and iron bed linen, towels, hats. How to treat an apartment for head lice? To do this, you need to use special tools. They are sold at hardware stores.

After infection, it is important to be examined by a dermatologist, who will prescribe therapy, and notify contact persons in the kindergarten, school, and relatives about the disease. The healing process should be regularly monitored by a specialist.

Lice body structure and lifestyle

Studying the information on how long the louse lives, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the vital activity of the parasite. Nutrition and mating processes take place on the human body. The answer to the question of whether lice can live outside the host is negative. They have growths in the form of hooks, due to which there is no way to move in any other way, except along a hair. In motion, the female lays eggs, which emerge from the abdomen, covered with a sticky substance, on the hair. When the larvae appear, they immediately start feeding.

The feeding process of lice and how they depend on the host

Studying the question of how many lice live outside the human body, you need to understand that the only food source for such insects is blood. For comparison, a specific type of parasite that colonizes animals, called the louse, on the contrary, prefers wool and the upper layer of the epithelium. Despite the fact that lice spend most of their time on human hairs, they do not harm the hair, but only try to hold on thanks to the hook-shaped growths.

Feeling the need for food, the insect descends on the skin and enters the proboscis into the epithelium. Lice do not live long outside the head (for example, in bed) for this very reason. If they are far from the owner, when there is no way to get drunk with blood, the insects will quickly die. Thinking about whether lice can live outside the human body, you need to take into account that the size of their "claws" is suitable for a human hair, and the shape and size of the body make it easy to maneuver along the hairline.

Without access to the human body, the louse dies within 3-4 days

If the question of how long a louse lives on a human body is being studied, then in this case the life expectancy is rather short - no more than 1.5 months. upon reaching the sexually mature stage. To this must be added the period when the insect is in its larval form (2-3 weeks). Thinking about how many lice can exist in the groin, you need to remember that these individuals live less - up to 6 weeks. In blood-sucking insects, the risk of falling from the human body along with the hair or during persecution is too high.