How lice reproduce on a person’s head and with what speed lay eggs (nits)

Modern man knows and is able very much. But always
experiences bewilderment and fear when he discovers
a microscopic insect parasitizing hair
groin or armpits.

We are talking about lice – an ancient bloodsucker, companion
person Pediculosis always appears suddenly, and
coping with it is difficult because the louse is very prolific and fast
is moving.

And to defeat the parasite, you need to know all the features of its
of existence.

How lice multiply on a person’s head. Life cycle
the parasite.

The content of the article:

• How lice multiply on a person’s head. Life cycle
  the parasite.
• How quickly lice on the head multiply after infection in a child
  and in adult
• Frequently asked questions about lice
• Where the infection can occur
• Symptoms of Pediculosis
• Methods of getting rid of the parasite
• Pediculosis prevention

Lice are dioecious insects. Therefore, in order to
the posterity appeared, the male and female individuals are needed.

Interestingly, the parasite can multiply, not yet
reaching adulthood, just going to the stage of the nymph.
Rapid reproduction occurs due to the availability of favorable
conditions:

• Temperature boundaries of a comfortable lice habitat
  range from 22 to 45 degrees. Even if a person walks
  without a hat, the parasite is not threatened with death, because
  the optimum temperature for it is 31 degrees;
• The presence of a food source in the form of blood allows the female
  constantly laying eggs, of which in a short time
  adult individuals develop;
• Insects that can move quickly, usually
  localized in a small space that allows
  females and males quickly find each other for mating.

INTERESTING: There are several types of lice:
head, clothes and pubic. The process of their reproduction can be considered
identical (there are the smallest differences).

The life cycle of the parasite.

In science, lice are referred to insects whose life cycle is
incomplete. It lacks the developmental stage of a typical larva.
(small worm), differing in appearance and way
food from an adult individual.

The female is able to postpone all her life
eggs mating with a male once. This is because
that the seminal fluid of the male fertilizes all the eggs. Female
the individual, hitting the human hair, immediately begins to feed and
multiply.

REFERENCE: Hair lice sets aside daily for 4
eggs (140 – for the life cycle), wardrobe – 10 each (300 – per life cycle),
pubic – 1-2 (up to 60 nits).

The life cycle begins immediately after losing
eggs, and includes several stages.

Egg Development Stage

In the process of laying eggs from the genitals, lice first
specific mucus comes out and then an egg that is attached
gradually on the hair by a stiff viscous secret at a distance
0.5-1 cm from the surface of the head and with the course of development rises
him The egg has very strong walls and is called a nit.
It can not be shaken due to strong fixation will help
special combs or “tightening” nits from the hair by hand.

INTERESTING: Nits like a piece of dead skin
white or light gray. But when viewed under
the microscope becomes clear that, rather, it resembles
handbag-bag, which is held tightly on the hair.

In the shell of the insect develops 8 days, after which it
breaks the wall, but can not get out. Nature has saved this
case of an interesting way of survival: the parasite begins to actively
inhale the air and release the carbon dioxide that accumulates
at the bottom of a kind of capsule. This leads to the expulsion of the individual from the egg.
As soon as it gets on the skin, it begins to actively feed and
sheds for the first time.

A nymph of the first age appears (size 1.5 mm). On that
The process takes about 2 days.

REFERENCE: Nymph zoologists call the young individual
insect, very reminiscent of an adult insect, but different
smaller size, durability of chitinous cover and transparent gray
color. Nymphs molt three times, each time growing out of chitin
cover and throwing it off when the soft body grows up.

The stage of development of the nymph of the first age

The term development of the nymph – 5 days. Nymph grows
eats, is able to multiply. Its size is 1.5-1.75
mm

Stage of development of the nymph of the second age

Lasts 8 days and ends with the appearance
adult lice (size 2-3.6 mm), capable of living from 30 to 42 days.

The lice growth cycle thus involves the development of nits and
triple shedding nymphs. It is transient and can be slowed down.
only when the temperature drops sharply. Usually
full life cycle takes place on the body of a single carrier for 16
days.

How quickly lice on the head multiply after infection in a child
and in adult

There is a medical statistics that identifies risk groups.
People who are most often infected with pediculosis (lice):

• Group 1: adolescents and young people aged
  from 14 to 25 years (every sixth is infected);
• Group 2: children under the age of 14;
• Group 3: people aged 35 and over (less
  most exposed to the disease).

The life cycle of the parasite occurs in both children and
adults equally – for 16 days. But, unlike
adults, children quickly respond to the appearance of lice: start bad
sleep, combing the head, an infection can be wounded,
reduced immunity.

After how many days the louse lays the first eggs

Eggs can lay as mature insects that have fallen off.
another carrier, as well as young individuals that have passed the life cycle on an infected
man

• As soon as the louse appears on the human body, it
  begins to feed and lay eggs. By location
  nits on the hair can determine the duration of infection and the beginning of laying
  eggs;
• The nymph of the first age is able to mate and
  put off the nits. This means that after 8-10 days from the day
  her birth will be a new portion of developing parasites;
• After 16 days, a mature individual develops from nits,
  capable of laying eggs itself.

If the adult louse on the human body is comfortable
conditions, the process of formation of new individuals goes on without stopping.
And in 30 days the number of parasites will increase in geometric
progression.

Frequently asked questions about lice

Expert opinion Alexander ValerievnaVrach-Trichologist

How is the mating process?

The male’s genital opening is located on top behind.
the anus, and in the female, except for the ovaries and oviducts,
there is a seminal receptacle and a vagina. The mating process lasts from
20 to 70 minutes and can be performed at any time. During
mating male firmly holds the female with a claw-like outgrowth.
Male seminal fluid fertilizes eggs, which can
be viable for 7–12 days in hair louse, in dressing
lice – 15-20 days. The formation of parasite eggs occurs in the egg.
tubules, where they are covered with a dense shell.

What first appears: louse or nit?

It is believed that lice may appear from the nits that came out
from under the skin. But this is an erroneous point of view, because nits are
eggs lice. Being a maternal individual, the parasite female passes the stage
mating, fertilization and the birth of a new individual.

Yes, it may be that a person does not have lice, but does have nits. But this
explained only by the following:

• or infection with lice was observed, and the treatment did not pass.
  effectively: lice were exterminated, but there are no nits, since they
  chitin layer missed the insecticide;
• either the conditions for the development of the life cycle lice were
  unfavorable, the nit was in a dormant state, and
  the adult individual died or moved to another carrier.

What are the differences between a male and a female?

In parasites isolated individuals, both female and male.
And the number of females exceeds the number of males, according to
scientists to maintain population numbers.

Females and males have both external and internal differences:

It is best to examine the internal genital lice under
a microscope.

Where the infection can occur

Lice, a type parasitizing insect
arthropods. She can’t fly, jump or swim, but
moves very quickly (about 30 cm per minute). Therefore, one of
The most common ways to infect head lice is contact
with a sick head to head.

Pediatric head disease most often affects children and
adolescents from 4 to 14 years old (girls with long hair),
contacting for a long time with each other in kindergarten, school or
children’s recreation camp. Cause of Pediculosis Infection
can be using someone else’s comb, headgear, towels
or pillows.

INTERESTING: You can “pick up” a head louse in
questionable hotels (bed linen), swimming pools (hats for
bathing and other people’s towels) and barber shops where not met
sanitary standards.

Pediculosis is transmitted by sexual contact, during
whose louse has the ability to climb from one person to
another and lay eggs.

Ward lice, like the head, is transmitted from the patient
healthy person with close contact and use of strangers
of things.

Symptoms of Pediculosis

Depending on the type of louse, there are different types of head lice and
therefore, different symptoms of the disease.

Symptoms of head lice:

• Itching of scalp, less often ears and neck;
• On the ground bites appear yellow scabs and noticeably
  inflamed hair follicles;
• When running pediculosis, lumps of uncut hair are formed,
  glued pus from wounds;
• On examination of the scalp, white or
  yellowish eggs laid by lice, when crushed, they click,
  empty eggs are gray;
• Lymph nodes may be inflamed near the ears and neck.

Symptoms of lice:

• The affected areas are the shoulders, the armpits,
  back, neck, abdomen, waist, groin, back and inner surface
  hips;
• Lice bites look like mosquitoes, but with a dark dot on
  the center; with an increase in the area of ​​the lesion, the bites acquire blue
  shade and may fester;
• When neglected bites become brown in color, skin
  at the site of injury thickens, appear in place of ulcers
  scarring;
• The patient has a fever, fever appears,
  weakness, nausea and headache.

Symptoms of pubic lice (phthyriasis):

• The affected areas are the genitals, anal
  hole, armpit hair, eyelashes and
  eyebrows;
• A slight itch that does not cause anxiety. Itching often
  accompanied by burning of the mucous membranes of the genital organs;
• With the defeat of the eyelashes and eyebrows, discomfort appears
  on the mucous membrane of the eye and around it. Nits are usually located on
  the length of the cilia closer to the eyelid.

Symptoms will help determine what kind of lice occurred.
infection. Then you can apply effective
means to combat parasites.

Methods of getting rid of the parasite

When symptoms of pediculosis appear, you need to find out the level
stitching. He might be

• Short: several nits and
  lice;
• Awesome: nits are hanging on the hair in bunches,
  noticeable movement of lice on the scalp, forehead, ears, eyebrows.

After that you should choose the most effective way to combat
the parasite.

There are several methods for the treatment of pediculosis:

1. Radical – head bald, full
   hair removal from the hairy part of the body. Lice will not be able to postpone
   eggs on hair less than 3-4 mm tall. Way really
   radical because in one day it is possible to get rid of
   parasite with any degree of hairiness. But not everyone accepts him,
   because they are not ready to part with their hair for a while.
   
2. Mechanical – manual selection of nits from hair and
   catching adults. Can be used with a small amount
   parasites. In this case, the head is washed (lice for a short time
   will become inactive), take a special comb, which
   wet hair is divided into very thin strands. Each hair
   in the strands can be seen, and with it found a nit. By
   during the inspection of the head lice are caught. Best procedure
   hold on a white cloth (if the parasite gets on it, it is easy
   can be detected and destroyed) or in the bathroom (easier to wash off the lice
   down the drain). During the day you should spend several times such
   inspection, be sure to wash your hair in the evening. If possible,
   then repeating mechanical catching lice is worth a few days.
   Bed linen boiled, hairbrushes to be replaced.
3. The use of folk remedies in the fight against
   parasite is not always effective, but is due to be
   low toxicity for the human body:

• Broths of herbs wormwood, mint, wild rosemary, root
  hellebore, chopped garlic rubbed into the scalp. Lice not
  make the smell of lavender oil and tea tree, they should be rubbed into
  skin and hair.
• Kerosene has been used for decades. But he can
  cause a burn or allergic reaction.

There is a safe recipe: a mixture is applied to dry hair
of:

• 1 tbsp. kerosene,
• 2 tsp. vegetable (better than olive oil),
• 1 tsp shampoo

The head is covered with a plastic bag and a towel for 2
hours, after washing with warm water with shampoo, rinsed with light
acetic solution. Nits and lice are combed when the hair
dry out.

The procedure can be repeated after 2 days, but the concentration
kerosene is made less.

Vinegar is used not to kill lice, but to
neutralize the secret that nits are attached to
hair. For the procedure induced aqueous acetic solution
(2/1), in which the hair is well moistened. Vinegar concentration not
more than 9%. After that, the head is tied with a plastic bag on
1 hour, wash with shampoo and dry. Next is a mechanical
removing nits and lice and combing them with a special comb.

Use of pharmaceuticals

In modern pharmacology, there is a wide range of tools
able to very quickly deal with pediculosis, affecting their
the parasite’s nervous system or by blocking air and them
fluid. The method of application of each tool is registered on
accompanying instructions.

The main types of funds:

• Sprays (Pediculen, Paranit, Pair Plus,
  Pedikulen Ultra (with a strong infection) are easy to use,
  applied to dry hair, but ineffective for the destruction of nits;
  
• Shampoos (Pedilin, Anti-bit, Reed, Paranix,
  Cifax, tarry) allow you to get rid of parasites in one step,
  applied to damp hair for 30 minutes, after which the head is washed
  normal shampoo, and nits and lice are combed.
• Emulsion Benzyl Benzoate 20% – for adults, 10%
  – for children from 5 years. It has an unpleasant smell, but it is cheap.
  
• Ointments (Permethrin Cream, Lauri, Knicks, Medifox,
  sulfuric, sulfuric-mercury, boric) rubbed into the skin, can cause
  allergic reaction, contraindicated in pregnant and lactating
  women and babies.
• Solutions (Nittifor)

The use of various methods and means in the fight against lice should
depend on the individual characteristics of the infected person.

Pediculosis prevention

Prevention of pediculosis lies in the implementation of the complex
rules that prevent the occurrence of the disease and eliminate
risks of infection. Observing the anti-pediculent rules, you can
protect yourself from re-infection. Exist
sanitary and hygienic rules and norms of reasonable, healthy
human communication with other people:

Sanitization after infection:

• After the treatment of the infected surface with insecticides, the dead
  nits and lice combed comb. One week procedure
  repeats.
• Things, bedding, items of personal hygiene infected
  man and his family members are subjected to careful processing.
• Every 1-3 days the head is examined not only the infected
  man, but also those who live with him near.

Personal hygiene:

• Shower and wash your hair every other day or every day;
• Bath with essential oils and hair masks (mainly:
  citrus or coniferous oils);
• Frequent change of clothes and underwear;
• Laundry and ironing;
• Double bed linen and towels per week;
• Careful hair care: frequent combing, washing
  hairbrushes 1 time in 2 days, change – once a month;
• Prohibiting other people from using personal items
  use (washcloths, towels, hairbrushes, hair ties,
  hairpins, headbands, headbands), outerwear and hats;
• Cleaning, washing or dry cleaning of outer clothing at least once
  in season;
• Regular wet house cleaning, airing, handling
  chemical means of upholstered furniture;
• In trains, motels, hotels use a personal bed.
  linen;
• In swimming pools, baths, saunas use their hats.

Do you follow the rules of hygiene for prevention
lice? danet

Thoughtful and balanced communication with people:

• Cessation of close contact with people living in
  unsanitary conditions, and with strangers;
• Exclusion of casual sex.

If the lice still bred, do not
to panic. In the courtyard of the 21st century! There is a mass in any pharmacy
drugs that can bring unwanted guests. But
so that they no longer appear, you need to follow the rules of personal
hygiene and from time to time carefully inspect their hair
close ones.