Nits

, hematophagous parasites of mammals, belonging to the order of Anoplura or Siphunculata.

The hosts of these small insects also include man; in particular, the species of most common interest for human pathology are:

Pediculus humanus corporis: body lice;
Pediculus capitis: head lice:
Pthirus pubis: pubic lice, commonly called lice.

What Causes Lice Infestation?

Diseases caused by lice, called peduculosis or phytyriasis, are highly itchy skin conditions, often causing scratching lesions.

The abrasions caused by scratching can become infected and give rise to complications (eg impetigo).

How to recognize the Nits?

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The nits are grayish-white in color, have dimensions of about 1 mm in diameter and are firmly anchored to the hair shaft: for this characteristic they can be differentiated from dandruff which, on the contrary, is eliminated with a puff or by a slight manual removal .

After about a week, the eggs hatch near the scalp. To establish how long the infestation has been going on, it is possible to measure how far the eggs have moved away from the scalp. The nits located at a distance of 7-10 mm from the scalp, were laid 15-20 days earlier (in fact (hair grows about 1 cm per month). Adult lice live for about 30 days. During this time, a female can lay 80 to 300 eggs on the host.

, eyebrows, eyelashes and pubic and armpit hair can harbor parasite eggs.

During her life (6-7 weeks, of which 3-4 in the adult state), the female deposits from 100 to 300 eggs, that is 8-10 a day, especially during the night.

it is made up of skin scales that come off with great ease by shaking the hair. The two conditions should therefore not be confused, since dandruff can also be associated with itchy scalp.

, in the form of shampoos, gels or lotions, you can commonly buy in pharmacies, some even without a prescription (however recommended);

The hair must be passed several times with a fine-toothed comb, preferably wet with specific anti-parasitic products;

The mechanical intervention using the comb is very important, as shampoos and other pesticide aids can have a limited effect. It is an operation that requires time and patience; it should preferably be carried out in daylight, near a window and repeated for several days;

To avoid re-infestation, all members of the family must check each other frequently; even the mere presence of nits attests to the infestation;

After use, the brushes and combs used to remove the lice eggs must also be left to soak in boiling water.