How they bite
To begin with, it makes sense to understand how lice bite people. Once in the right place, the insect begins to use sharp stilettos around its mouth. The flea also has the same “attributes”. With the help of these elements, the pest moves deeper into the skin until it reaches the artery.
In this case, the head of the parasite is completely recessed into the human skin, and the body has a vertical position. As the insect penetrates, it secretes a special enzyme that prevents the blood from thickening. It is this substance that allergy sufferers react to.
Attention! The larvae are also capable of biting. However, their activity is not so dangerous for humans: the amount of irritating enzyme in the saliva of individuals is extremely small.
Characteristic signs of a bite
Lice bites on a person in appearance are not much different from lesions of other types of blood-sucking insects - especially in the warm season. Even a thorough examination of the affected areas does not guarantee a correct diagnosis.
Inspections in cold weather may suggest a bed bug infestation. But still, the bites of these two different insects have differences. It is common for bedbugs to leave punctures that form a trail. The louse leaves marks randomly throughout the entire area of the skin.
When there is damage to the scalp, the first suspicion falls on lice. In medical practice, there is an official name for this disease - head lice.
What do lice bites look like?
A reliable sign of active activity of individuals is the detection of lice bites on the head and body of a person. The skin in the local area turns red, a protracted center is visualized, and itching and tissue swelling are noted.
With multiple dispersal of parasites, numerous traces of lice bites are noted - the patient’s skin becomes bluish.
When linen lice bite, pimples 2-4 mm in diameter appear on the human body (not the hair part). Most often, such “marks” are found on the patient’s abdomen, shoulders and buttocks. With increased sensitivity of the body, an allergic reaction manifests itself in the form of extensive swelling and redness.
Traces of pubic parasites spread to the anus, genitals, and less commonly, armpits, eyebrows and eyelashes. Miniature red spots are found in local areas. Since this type of parasite is small in size, there is no characteristic dot-shaped mark on the pimple.
Traces of vital activity of parasites on the head are not easy to notice. With extensive infestation, lice bites are found on the body beyond the hairline area.
Areas affected by head lice become crusty when scratched. In this case, pimples appear in no particular order - the points are located chaotically.
How to get rid of lice using traditional medicine methods
The safest treatment methods are the use of vegetable, mineral and essential oils. They cover the insect's body with a thin film, the spiracles are blocked, and the parasite dies from suffocation. In addition, oils care for hair and skin, do not penetrate the circulatory system and are completely safe even for a small child.
Essential oils of tea tree, clove, eucalyptus, orange, juniper, rosemary, and lavender are used. The antibacterial properties of oils prevent infection from penetrating into the bite wound, have a repellent effect, and restore the epidermis.
Oils can be combined with each other or with alcohol-containing liquids, for example, alcohol, cognac or vodka. They facilitate the penetration of bioactive substances into the skin and dissolve the adhesive substance with which nits cling to the hair.
Other acid-containing substances are also effective:
- pickled vegetable brine;
- acids contained in the juice of berries and fruits;
- various organic acids, such as citric, acetic, tartaric, malic.
Thanks to acid, the process of combing out parasites is simplified, since it damages the chitin of the adult louse and the shell of the egg, thereby destroying the insect at any stage of its life.
Also used are decoctions of plants such as bird cherry, eucalyptus, lavender, wild rosemary, wormwood, celandine, tansy.
The combination of folk remedies and pharmaceutical ones increases the effectiveness of processing.
It is possible to use more aggressive substances - dust soap, turpentine, gasoline or kerosene, but these products can cause an allergic reaction and damage hair and skin, so they are used in extreme cases.
Differences between lice bites and other insect bites
It is usually difficult to tell right away whether lice are actively biting a person or other insects. Bites of pubic and head parasites are characterized by a common difference - spots appear regularly. Other representatives are not interested in constantly returning to the hair growth zone.
This feature of pests is explained by the specific structure of the body - only lice can boast of special hook-shaped growths on their paws, which facilitate the process of moving individuals along the hair.
Body lice bites are not so easy to distinguish: their marks are approximately the same size, they are located in the area of the buttocks, abdomen, arms, etc.
The peculiarity of lice bites of this type can only be considered their chaotic arrangement.
If you compare a louse with a bug, the latter leaves behind a chain of red dots on the body of the victim.
Bite process
The process of a parasite bite Lice lack a proboscis, thanks to which the blood-sucking insect easily reaches the vessel with blood.
The mouthparts are similar to those of a flea. The insect pierces the cheekbones into the skin, gets to the blood vessels, and injects a special substance so that the blood does not clot. While feeding, the insect lifts its body upward and penetrates with its head as deeply as possible into the human body. After feeding is completed, blood continues to ooze for some time. And at the site of lice bites, characteristic marks remain.
Interesting!
Some people are interested in the question of whether nits bite. The name nits refers to the larva that is located inside the egg, under a dense shell. She is unable to go outside and feeds on the substance left in the egg. After 2 weeks it appears outside. But this is no longer a nit, but a nymph of the first instar. Differs from the adult individual in body size and color. Immediately begins to parasitize.
Why are bites dangerous?
A lice bite is dangerous due to the possibility of infecting the owner with a serious illness.
Diseases carried by insects include:
- relapsing fever. Manifested by fever, allergic rashes, severe intoxication, jaundice of the skin;
- typhus. Accompanied by destructive changes in blood vessels;
- quintan. Acute infection, manifested in the form of high fever, soreness in muscles and joints;
- tularemia. An infection that leads to damage to the lymph nodes and nearby tissue.
Many argue that pubic lice bites are especially dangerous. This is due to the imaginary ability of pests to carry STDs and AIDS. Since the nature of immunodeficiency is different, we are not talking about the possibility of contracting pathologies through parasites.
Attention! Lice bites on the body and head can cause a severe allergic reaction, which requires prompt attention to specialists.
How to relieve itching
Remedies for relieving itching from lice bites
A lice bite causes pain and discomfort. Unpleasant sensations may persist even after the insects have been killed. It is not uncommon for the head to continue to itch after lice are removed. But there are remedies that help alleviate the patient’s condition and relieve pain:
- The wounds should be washed with warm water and soap. You can take baby or tar soap. It should not cause allergies, otherwise the itching will only get worse.
- Treat the comb with vodka or alcohol. It will kill pathogenic bacteria and relieve discomfort.
- Lubricate the inflamed wound with Rescuer ointment. It will speed up the healing of the abscess.
- Severe itching will be relieved by Zvezdochka or Fenistil balm.
- Menovazine is used if an allergy appears from lice bites. In this case, you can take an antihistamine: Zodak, Lorotadin, Suprastin. You should drink it following the instructions.
Sometimes insect bites cause nausea, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will determine whether a serious illness has occurred or whether a severe allergic reaction has occurred.
To cure lice, it is not enough to just treat the bite sites. It is necessary to get rid of lice. To do this, you should buy a special product at the pharmacy. During the treatment period, it is necessary to change bed linen and clothes every day. In addition to these measures, sanitizing the apartment is recommended.
Treatment
Lice bites are a reason to consult a doctor in cases of a severe reaction: multiple rashes, fever, headache and other alarming symptoms. Before meeting with a specialist, a person can relieve symptoms on their own.
First aid
The first aid algorithm for pest bites is simple and includes the following steps:
- Wash the affected area with soapy water.
- Use a disinfectant and dry the affected area (you can use any alcohol-containing composition).
- Treat each lice bite with Fenistil (you can replace the product with Rescuer).
How to relieve itching
You can relieve the itching of an insect bite with any cream or ointment containing menthol, as well as anti-inflammatory medications.
Among the well-proven drugs were:
- Nezulin. Has a natural composition. The drug is not contraindicated for the treatment of children. Has a repellent effect;
- Bepanten. Used in the treatment of bites and protection against pests. Heals and relieves signs of inflammation;
- Menovazin. An effective representative of antiseptics, cools well, relieves inflammation;
- Levomekol. The drug contains an antibacterial component. Fights microbes, eliminates itching, redness, promotes accelerated cell regeneration.
All listed medications are prescribed by a doctor. Additional drug therapy is required for the patient only in cases of severe head lice.
Attention! Since we are talking about a contagious form of the disease, throughout the entire therapeutic course the patient should limit his contact with strangers and observe the rules of personal hygiene.
Video
Video instruction. How to get rid of lice and nits at home.
