Are you having a lousy time?
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All about Lice, where they came from, why they love you,
how to get rid of them, and the dangers of current treatment methods.
Chapter 16 from Steve Tvedten's book "The Best Control"
(Used here with permission.)

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Body Lice
Pediculus humanis var corporis
Appearance - The body louse is very similar to the head louse; the body louse is usually 10% - 20% larger, has thinner antennae, not as deep abdominal indentations, with better developed abdominal muscles than the head louse.

Life Cycle
Egg - This again is generally similar to that of the head louse. The eggs are glued to fibers of clothing and are sometimes found stuck to body hairs. Most eggs are usually found in the seams of clothes which come in contact with the skin where the adults and the nymphal stages are to be found. The body louse lays about twice as many eggs as the head louse and the nits can remain dormant for a period up to 30 days.

Nymphs - Body louse nymphs spend the greater part of their time in the clothing, and feeding on the host only takes place when the host is resting or sleeping. All stages of the body louse congregate together, being attracted to each other by smell, e.g., the odor of the excrement. Body lice crawl about the clothing, generally keeping close to the host's body, although in heavy infestations they may be seen crawling outside on the outer garments.

Length of life cycle - The body louse adults live about twice as long as head lice, are more resistant to starvation and exhibit less mortality during development.

Body lice females may deposit 200 or more eggs, usually attaching them to clothing fibers. The development period is similar to that of head lice, but they may remain dormant for up to 30 days. The life history of crab lice is also similar except that the young require 2 to 2-1/2 weeks to mature and the adults normally live about a month.

Human lice usually cannot survive for long when separated from their host. Head and body lice leave the host or clothing voluntarily only when the host has died for becomes hot with fever or has gone into a sauna, or when they try to avoid strong light or to transfer to another host in close personal (sexual) contact. Human lice are completely dependent upon human blood for sustenance. Lice feed frequently, usually every 3 to 6 hours, and can not usually survive more than 48 hours away from the human body. Their bites cause bad itching and red spots about the size of a mosquito bite - but remember it may take as long as 2 - 3 weeks (or even more) for some people to experience the intense itching associated with an infestation of pediculosis.

Crab Lice
Phthirus pubis (Linnaeus)
Appearance - This insect is easily differentiated from the head louse and body louse by the strong thick claws of the mid and hind legs, while the claws of the fore legs are long and fine. The body is broader than long, contrasting with both other species of Pediculus humanus.

Life cycle - The egg is slightly smaller than that of Pediculus and it is glued to a body hair with more cement. The egg hatches in 7 - 8 days. The three nymphal stages do not wander far from the hair, which is grasped with the tarsal claws. Several hours are usually taken to complete each bloodsucking meal.

The nymphs become adults in from 13 - 17 days and it seems probable that the length of adult life is not more than one month. Fewer eggs are laid than Pediculus. The adult is thought to be unable to survive longer than 24 hours when removed from its host.

Crab lice usually die within 24 hours if separated from their host. This short survival and their sluggish movement inhibit the spread of crab lice, except through intimate (sexual) personal contact or in extremely crowded living and sleeping conditions where they can and do spread readily. Crab lice may be (but rarely are) spread by nits on loose hairs left on bedding, towels and toilets by infested persons.

Head Lice Overview
Many diseases affect our children today, but few are as communicable and as wide spread as head lice (Pediculosis humanus captis) and few involve the repeated direct exposure of young children to dangerous, synthetic pesticide poisons - that do not even control resistant lice - some health departments and physicians have been mislead to believe children should keep these toxins on their heads - under a shower cap - for 3 - 8 hours!

Head lice attach each nit (egg) to the hair shaft at the scalp with a waterproof cement-like substance. Although lice and nits are most commonly found at the nape of the neck and behind the ears, they can be found anywhere on the scalp or hair shafts. The grayish-white nits are shaped like an elongated football with a cap at one end to admit air and allow the young insect to escape. The young nymphs have a head plate with sharp toothlike spines (the egg-burster) they use to open the egg shell.

People say a lot of things that are lice related, e.g., "nitpicking", "gone over with a fine-toothed comb", "a lousy time", "the nitty gritty", and "wash or get it out of your hair". Hopefully, they will soon be saying they are easily removed with a good hygiene program, e.g., Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaners and/or Not Nice to LiceŽ enzyme shampoo and cleaners and/or with baby or olive oil and/or conditioner.

The presence of nits does not always mean that a person still has a current infestation. The nits may be left from a past infestation that no longer needs to be treated. To determine whether a person is currently infested with head lice, there must be a louse visible or usually there must be nits attached to the hair shaft 1/4" or less from the scalp. If there is no evidence of live infestation, do not treat with any poison! Simply wash with a nit remover, e.g., Not-Nice-to-LiceŽ shampoo. The position of nits on the hair shaft usually can distinguish between current and past infestation because female lice attach their eggs to the hair shaft at the scalp. In 1 week, the time it takes for a louse egg to hatch, the average human hair grows about 1/4", carrying the egg with it. Therefore, nits more than 1/4" from the scalp usually either have already hatched or will never hatch. They may remain attached to the hair shaft for months, but play no role in the transmission of head lice. Simply cut out or remove these dead or empty nits with a lice comb and/or wash with Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaner, Kleen KillŽ peppermint soap or Not Nice to LiceŽ enzyme shampoo, and/or Prell and vinegar and/or baby oil or olive oil.

Itching is the most common symptom (caused by the blood sucking and bacterial infections, e.g., impetigo), but many people with very light infestations may experience no initial symptoms at all. Therefore, you cannot always rely on itching or frequent head scratching to detect head lice. A thorough examination of the hair and scalp is necessary to detect head lice and/or nits. Persons infested with pubic lice should be examined for accompanying venereal diseases, because there is a strong possibility that one is present with the other. Persons who think they are infested with lice should seek assistance from a physician, the health department or the school nurse and follow their instructions. These instructions may include a regular scheduled use of non-toxic Not Nice to LiceŽ shampoo or, as a last resort, a pesticide poison in a shampoo, the regular use of a sauna, daily bathing, the routine laundering of bedding, clothing and towels in hot water; and the daily washing of combs and brushes in Kleen KillŽ enzymes. The entire family and all close school contacts should be routinely inspected and undergo simultaneous treatment(s) if necessary. Try every non-toxic control including metal nit or flea combs and Not Nice to LiceŽ and/or "buzz cuts" first.

A home or school should never be sprayed, dusted or otherwise treated with insecticide poisons even when an occupant has an active head lice infestation. Lice live on their host and do not hide in wall crevices and floor cracks like cockroaches and other household pests. Treatment of homes, schools or any other dwelling with insecticide poisons would, therefore, be useless and dangerous. Cleaning of carpets, furniture, drapes, floors, etc. should be limited to simple vacuuming, or you can rinse-and-vac with enzyme or borax. Vacuuming is the safest and easiest way to remove lice or fallen hair shafts with attached nits from upholstered furniture, rugs, stuffed animals, (child) car seats, mattresses, carpets, bedrooms, mats, cots, and anything else that might have had contact with an infested child, when done - when finished vacuuming, put the vacuum cleaner bag outside in the trash. Even soap and water or borax will kill lice in bed linens, pillows, blankets and clothing if the water is hot enough (130o F.). All clothing and bedding used during the 2-day period prior to treatment should be laundered and dried in a hot dryer. Such high temperatures may be suitable for laundering purposes, but not for shampooing the head or for bathing the body. Dry heat, steam cleaning or pressing with a hot iron will also destroy all lice because they can survive only a few minutes at 130o F. Most home water heaters supply water at sufficient temperatures to kill lice and their nits. Washing in cold or lukewarm water will not harm them. An alternative method (if you can not wash or dry clean some items) is to seal clothing and other articles, e.g., stuffed animals, hats, and helmets etc. in a plastic bag for 2 weeks. Place the plastic bags outdoors on a porch or deck or in the garage even if the lice hatch in the bag - they can not survive if they are not fed. This will also kill all lice and their nits or you can simply wash all infested articles with Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaners and borax. Combs, brushes and similar items can also be treated by soaking for 1 hour in Not Nice to LiceŽ or by soaking them for 5 to 10 minutes in a pan of water heated on the stove to 130o F., or by soaking and/or washing in Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaners, or Kleen-KillŽ peppermint soap and/or borax. Isn't it interesting that the EPA registered .5% permethrin RidŽ label for lice control on bedding and furniture warns "avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. This product (poison) is not for use on humans. Vacate room after treatment and ventilate before reoccupying. Do not allow children or pets to contact treated area until surfaces are dry." While the NixŽ FDA registered lice treatment with 1% permethrin (twice as much poison) says "Saturate hair and scalp (especially behind the ears and nape of the neck) and leave (the poison) on for 10 minutes!" Do you really want to poison your kids?

Least-Toxic Head Lice Control
To avoid becoming infested with head lice, family members should daily shampoo with soap and then everyone should be regularly inspected and be taught not to share other people's combs, brushes, scarves, etc. At school, children's clothing and other personal articles should be kept separate from those of other students, e.g., on pegs, in separate lockers or storage areas or on the backs of chairs). A school screening program can help keep head lice from becoming an epidemic.

Do not panic and spray the school or home with any synthetic pesticide poisons. Try washing with Not Nice to LiceŽ shampoo, oil of balsam, olive oil, Kleen KillŽ peppermint soap or Kleen KillŽ enzymes, neem soap and/or borax. Note: Not Nice to LiceŽ and Kleen KillŽ enzymes not only remove the nits - they also safely kill the lice - wash again in 5 - 10 days and/or use enzymes as a (non-poison) prophylactic treatment. Note: freezing and even moderately elevated temperatures are lethal to body lice and their nits, e.g., lice die at 115o F. or 1 hour, 121.1o F. for 30 minutes, or 124.5o F. for 5 minutes, eggs less than 5 days old are killed in 5 minutes at 128.3o F. So take a sauna. Black people in the U. S. are rarely infested with head lice. This is thought to be because their hair is more oily. So, an alternative treatment is to saturate hair with baby oil at night to kill lice and nits. Wrap your head in a towel to prevent staining bed clothes. Wash hair thoroughly in the morning. Use a metal nit or flea comb to remove dead lice and nits. Routinely treat/inspect every member of the family. Daily shower with soap shampoo and practice proper personal hygiene. Avoid using other individuals' combs, hats, towels or hairbrushes, and wash or sanitize these items frequently. Bedding and clothing should be changed and washed at temperatures at least 130o F. with soap and borax and dried in a dryer frequently. Daily vacuuming of carpeting, rugs and floors and routine sanitation of locker rooms with Kleen KillŽ enzymes and/or borax and proper laundering can help reduce the incidence of lice.

Educate yourself, your child and others about the biology of head lice, the probability of infestations and appropriate nontoxic methods for eliminating the problem. Watch for head scratching. When head lice infestations are common at school, check your child's head nightly with a bright light and comb. Begin treatment with Not Nice to LiceŽ and/or even regular soap shampoos and olive oil while combing with a specially designed metal head-lice (nit) comb as soon as infestations are detected.

Schools should have a "no nit" policy. Infested students should be sent home immediately with a letter explaining their infestation, the school policy and suggested controls, e.g., Not Nice to LiceŽ enzyme shampoo and/or metal nit combs. They should be re-examined by the school nurse before re-admission - if still infested they should be sent home again with a second note. Upon the third notation the lice have been untreated-we advise you direct follow-up to the local health department. Remember schools do not get lice - people do.

Remove all nits - this assures total lice control. Shave the head or give a really good G.I. or brush haircut or wash with Not Nice to LiceŽ shampoo and then separate hair into small sections and remove any remaining attached nits with a metal flea or lice comb, baby safety scissors, or your fingernails.

Provide each child with separate storage area for head coverings or other clothing at home and at school. Don't share towels, combs, brushes, head phones, scarves, hair ornaments, etc.

Do not use any volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons in locker areas or other places. Vacuum and mop daily with Kleen KillŽ enzymes and borax.

Daily wash all of the bedding and clothing of the infested child in Kleen KillŽ enzyme solution and/ or borax and place them in a clothes dryer at the hottest setting for 30 minutes at the same time the treatment of the hair and scalp is undertaken. Dry-clean garments that cannot be washed or store in plastic bags for 2 weeks.

Follow a program that combines daily soap shampoos or Not Nice to LiceŽ enzymes and/or regular soap and/or oil of balsam or olive oil and/or peppermint or neem soaps and combing out lice at least once a week for at least 3 weeks. Have the child lie on the kitchen counter with their head in the sink. This allows you to spend sufficient time and to be comfortable as you work and you can use the spray hose to rinse. Soak combs and brushes for an hour in a 2% Lysol solution or heat in a pan on the stove, or better yet, Kleen KillŽ enzyme solution.

Use insecticidal poison shampoo preparations only as a last resort (never preventively) only after combing and shampooing with non-poisons, e.g., regular soap and olive oil or Not Nice to LiceŽ shampoo or Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaners and metal flea or lice combs and saunas have proven ineffective. There are no safe pesticide poisons!

Pyrethrin-based pediculicides active ingredients may be less hazardous to humans than those containing lindane, but no pesticide poison is safe.

It is best never to use lindane or any other volatile, synthetic pesticide poison.

On Tuesday 11/05/96 we were told another IPM success story - one of our schools had a teacher who unsuccessfully tried 3 different head lice poison "treatments" on her own children and continually changed and/or bought new bed linens, etc. - all of which was dangerous and/or expensive and did not work, because her children still had head lice. The superintendent's secretary who had been at one of our in-service meetings told her to wet her children's heads and shampoo for 10 - 15 minutes with 4 oz. of Kleen KillŽ preformed enzyme cleaner - she did and of course, Ginesis Products (nontoxic to people) enzyme cleaner - not only removed the lice, it removed the nits - now everyone in that school district is very excited about "alternative" pest control. Remember, preformed enzyme cleaners, e.g., Kleen KillŽ and Not Nice to LiceŽ, especially those that contain protease enzymes, will quickly and safely destroy insect exoskeletons - when insects molt they inject protease enzymes into the "seam" of their exoskeletons to naturally open the exoskeleton up - so they can "step out". Obviously, protease enzymes like Kleen KillŽ and/or Not Nice to LiceŽ Shampoo will never create immune or resistant insects like volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons do and they are virtually nontoxic to people and pets. So, we suggest you shampoo with Not Nice to LiceŽ shampoo - that "makes the hair so slick they can not stick." The last ingredient in Not Nice to LiceŽ Shampoo and Kleen KillŽ products is "peace of mind".

If you really want a shock - compare just the active ingredients in several over-the-counter (commercial) head lice (poison) shampoos - with a can of RaidŽ - the Raid can that warns you not to let the contents touch the skin - usually has less active ingredients/poisons! There is twice as much Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO) in the head lice shampoo as the Raid. There is only 0.4% pyrethrins in the RaidŽ poison can and the can cautions you not to get any of the spray on you or your clothing, but the head lice poison shampoo tells you to put it all on your child's head! Pyrethrin poison formulas with 5% concentrations of permethrin are now being prescribed with some physicians recommending leaving the entire permethrin poison shampoos on your child's head for 1 - 2 hours instead of the 10 minutes suggested on most labels. Stronger poisons and increased exposure time makes toxic reactions far more likely! Would you spray your child's head with Raid? Then, why would you use an even stronger poison with which to soak your child's head? for 10 minutes, 3 - 8 hours or longer? Will that really give you peace of mind?

Note: Confusing nonviable eggs with living nits is common, as is prescribing insecticide poisons over the phone without any inspection of the scalp or eggs with a lens or microscope. Both situations may result in unnecessary exposure to a toxic pesticide poison and should not be tolerated. The product called ClearŽ cleansing rinse for (nit) lice-egg removal (after use of a lice- killing product) probably will kill lice all by itself due to the enzymes - we have sprayed crickets with a very diluted version of this rinse and have killed all of the crickets within minutes - but the rinse does not seem to remove nits any better than water. ClearŽ products do not advise this use and virtually demands you still use a poison shampoo first; that is why we suggest you use Ginesis Not Nice to LiceŽ Shampoo and/or Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaners.

Crab or Pubic Lice Overview
Phthirus pubis (Linnaeus)
Adult crab lice are only a little over half the size of body or head lice, rarely more than 1/12" long; their last two pairs of legs terminate in hooked mitts that resemble crab claws. These lice are confined to coarse pubic hair and sometimes armpits, eyebrows and eyelashes. Pubic lice move very little in the pubic region and produce few eggs. The most common method of transmission of crab or public lice is by sexual intercourse. When infested pubic hair detaches, lice can hatch on underwear, towels, in beds, or on toilet fixtures. If their immediate environment is above 50o F., a pair of pubic lice could infest another person without personal contact.

Crab or Pubic Lice Control
Accurate, calm communications are invaluable in explaining pubic louse infestations and making recommendations for their control.

Least-Toxic Crab or Pubic Lice Control

If your pubic area itches, seek diagnosis immediately; there is no reason to suffer unnecessarily. Moreover, if you wait, you may infect others. Note: however, that itching does not necessarily indicate pubic lice - there are other, noninfectious causes of itching in this area, including heat.

If pubic lice are diagnosed, wash bedding and clothing in enzymes and/or borax and/or place them in a hot clothes dryer. If you apply an insecticide poison to your pubic area (very dangerous) do so only as a last resort, or because your doctor has prescribed them or there is a large infestation. If only a few pubic lice are present on the body, simply going into a sauna or shaving the affected area and then washing the skin vigorously each day with plain old hot soapy water will usually eliminate the lice. Coconut- or olive-oil-based soaps, e.g., Kleen KillŽ peppermint soaps, have natural insecticidal properties and should be used first. Small infestations may also be cut or shaved off and/or combed out and/or try Not Nice to LiceŽ shampoo, neem soaps, Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaners and/or oil of balsam or oil of anise and/or peppermint soap with enzymes and/or borax laundry powder.

Pyrethrin pediculicides or the pyrethroid NIX are supposedly more effective than lindane (gammabenzene hexachloride) and are less toxic. Pyrethrins are available over the counter in local drug stores; NIX with permethrin is only available by doctor prescription. Use poison only as a last resort.

Make sure your sexual partner(s) are alerted to the problem, educated about the infestation, examined and treated, if necessary.

BODY AND HEAD LICE OVERVIEW
Pediculus humanus (Linnaeus) and/or Pediculus humanus capitus (DeGeer)

Body and head lice are virtually indistinguishable in appearance and life cycle; however, their behavior is very different: Both suck blood, but body lice engorge themselves, feeding to the point that their abdomens become purple and distended. Body lice are easily reared on rabbit blood after a period of assimilation but head lice can only be successfully reared on humans. Body lice harbor on clothes, hiding along seams and moving to the body to engorge. They do not usually deposit their eggs on body hair or head hair but on clothing. While body louse epidemics can be controlled on humans by emergency applications of dangerous synthetic pesticide poisons (dusts usually), we believe control is best maintained by daily baths and daily cleaning and washing of clothes using Kleen KillŽ enzymes and/or borax and (if your doctor permits) saunas. Try using Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaners and/or borax to wash infested clothing - Note: enzymes may "eat" natural dyes.

Body lice, historically the most common human louse, are now very rare in the United States. Infestations appear on those who cannot take care of themselves like homeless individuals who can not or choose not to daily bathe and to daily remove their clothes for cleaning and washing. Infested clothing passed from one individual to another also is a common method of transmission. Wash with Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaners or Kleen KillŽ peppermint soap with borax. The body louse's preference for tight places in clothing earns it the nickname "seam squirrel."

Body Louse Control
Some general application volatile, synethetic pesticide poison formulations are labeled for spraying but are of little value and very dangerous. Try using borax, Kleen KillŽ enzymes and/or peppermint soaps or Not Nice to LiceŽ Shampoo first.

Least-toxic Body and Head Lice Control
To control body lice daily change into clean underwear and clothing - remember, laundering kills lice in 5 minutes, eggs or nits in 10 at 130o F. With daily showers and frequent changes of properly laundered clothing, a body lice infestation will eventually end without any pesticide poison treatment. For head lice: Never borrow and use anyone's hat, helmet, wig, scarf, comb or brush. Use Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaners and/or oil of balsam or oil of anise, and/or borax and/or Kleen KillŽ peppermint or neem soap and/or Not Nice to LiceŽ.

Scabies
Scabies is a contagious (catching) disorder of the skin caused by very small, wingless insects or mites called the Human Itch mite or Scabies itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis (Hering). The female insect burrows into the skin where she lays 1 - 3 eggs daily. A very small, hard to see, zig-zag blister usually marks the trail of the insect as she lays her eggs. Other more obvious symptoms are an intense itching (especially at night) and a red rash that can occur at the area that has been scratched. The most common locations for scabies are on the sides of fingers, between the fingers, on the backs of the hands, on the wrists, heels, elbows, armpits, inner thighs and around the waist (belt line). If untreated, the female will continue to lay eggs for about five weeks. The eggs hatch and the new mites begin the cycle all over again. The mites themselves are too small to be seen without magnification. One of the great problems with scabies always has been misdiagnosis. Scabies is spread by personal contact, e.g., by shaking hands or sleeping together or by close contact with infected articles such as clothing, bedding or towels. It is usually found where people are crowded together or have frequent contact, and is most common among school children, families, roommates, and sexual partners. Scabies can be spread by the insect itself or by the egg. Prompt action is required to rid a person of the insects and eggs. Sulfur has been used (6 - 10% in lotion or cream) since Roman times as a scabicide, but you might be allergic.

If you think your child or someone else in the family has scabies - Try a sauna and/or try bathing, washing or soaking in diluted Not Nice to LiceŽ Shampoo or Kleen KillŽ enzyme cleaners, sulfur and/or borax - then call your medical provider to be sure you are no longer infected.

If you are still infected, your medical provider or doctor may prescribe a pesticide (poison) lotion - use the prescribed (poison) lotion on the body (from the neck down) of the affected person(s). Follow the instruction on the bottle - very carefully. Try Not-Nice-to-LiceŽ shampoo and/or Kleen KillŽ enzymes and/or Kleen KillŽ peppermint soap and borax or a sauna first, if your doctor will allow it.

In most cases your child can return to school after the first treatment and after all clothing, towels and bedding have been washed.

Prevention

Please also see Chapter 20 for more on scabies.

The above measures are suggested to help prevent reinfestation. However, even the medicated (poison) lotion treatment for scabies does not provide long-term protection and reinfestation is always possible. So watch and practice proper prevention - Remember to try to avoid the use of poison on your person or child at all costs. There has been some discussion of using ivermectin (orally) to control scabies.

Testing - According to the American Academy of Dermatology the most common test involves applying a drop of sterile mineral oil to the suspected lesion. The site is then scraped with a scalpel and the scrapings are transferred to a slide. Under a microscope, the doctor should be able to find scabies mites, their eggs and/or feces. Another option is an ink test, in which the doctor applies a blue or black felt-tipped pen to the suspected areas. Then the skin is cleaned. Mite burrows can be revealed if the ink sinks into them.
 

For a list of acknowledgements, bibliography or references, contact: steve@getipm.com.

NOTE: Not Nice To Lice Ž Shampoo is not a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved or registered pediculicide (lice poison) in the U.S., so Ginesis Products is only marketing Not Nice To LiceŽ Shampoo as a cosmetic shampoo. Please note, however that the ingredients in Not Nice To LiceŽ are Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration and many other Government agencies.

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