How to Prevent Body Lice
A lice infestation is a horrible experience that can affect any area. Lice are small parasites that live in hair and clothes follicles. Lice feed on biting the skin and suck the blood, causing uncomfortableness and itching. There are three kinds of human lice: head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis), body lice (pediculus humanus corpis) and pubic lice (Pthirus pubis). Prevention against the propagation of lice is possible if you follow these easy steps. Next, at OneHowTo we'll explain how to prevent body lice.
You'll need:
- Hoover
- Washing machine
- Dryer
Steps to follow:
Getting body lice is not a common situation, but it can happen when we are in contact with someone who has them or with a surface in which these insects are present. Identifying the symptoms is important to be able to attack this plague and avoid the itch they produce.
The signs that show you have body lice are:
- Intense itching in your body, especially the areas where our clothes are tightest such as the waist, crotch or bra straps.
- Appearance of red, protruding bites on your skin, which can generate small wounds or crusts.
The first step to prevent body lice is to avoid using bed linen, clothes or furniture that have been used by an infected person with body lice, as these types of textile are commonly known for transmitting body lice.
This plague is usually present in people with poor hygiene that don't wash their clothes or daily linen frequently, as well as those small spaces in which many people are living together and where daily hygiene is not the most adequate. It's a very rare condition in people how wash daily and care for their general hygiene.
Those who have body lice may probably also have head lice and in the pubic area, so it's convenient to check these areas to take the necessary measures and get rid of them.
As these insects usually live in our clothes, towels and bed linen it's important to wash them in a cycle of at least 55ºC (131ºF), to get rid of them and put them in the dryer to maximize the effect. These are precautions you should take if you have been in contact with an infected person.
If you suspect that you have body lice it's convenient to also check your head to identify lice and start the adequate treatment to get rid of them if there are any. There are specific products on sale at Chemist's as well as topic creams to apply on the itches in your body in order to relieve any discomfort.
Good hygiene and washing your clothes, bed linen and towels is essential to get rid of this condition.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Prevent Body Lice, we recommend you visit our Family health category.
