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Head lice on the rise: How parents should act now!
Lübeck recorded a decline in the prescription of anti-lice medications in 2022. Learn more about prevention and treatment.
Head lice on the rise: How parents should act now!
The issue of head lice remains a recurring problem in Lübeck, as a total of 339 packs of anti-lice medication were prescribed last year. For comparison: in 2019 there were 539 packs, which shows that during the Corona period, with its distance rules and reduced contacts among children, the transmission of annoying parasites also decreased. But now that everyday life is returning to normal, the spread of lice could increase again, as hl-live.de reports.
Head lice – that sounds unpleasant, but fortunately they are harmless and do not transmit any dangerous diseases. The youngest are particularly affected: kindergarten and primary school children are often the main carriers and distributors of these ectoparasites. The lice only spread through direct head-to-head contact, which can happen particularly easily in schools and daycare centers.
Effective measures against head lice
However, one-off treatments with anti-lice agents are not enough to finally get rid of the pests. According to the specialist information from the AOK, these products should be used again after 9 to 10 days. In addition, the hair should be combed out wet every 3 to 4 days over a period of two weeks in order to drive both lice and their eggs, the nits, to the devil once and for all aok.de.
Various products are available in pharmacies that are covered by statutory health insurance companies. If an infestation is discovered, it is advisable to inform the school or daycare center immediately in order to contain the spread in good time. Parents can also play a central role here, because according to the Infection Protection Act there is no obligation to report head lice infestations, but they should definitely inform the community facility about the infestation in order to avoid further infections.
Facts about head lice
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) sees it as particularly important to regularly provide specialist groups with up-to-date information. Their guides for dealing with head lice infestations are specially prepared for doctors and medical professionals and are available in the Epidemiological Bulletin and on their website. The experts recommend a systematic examination of the hair with specific lice combs in order to quickly identify the infestation and act accordingly.
It is crucial for parents to show children early on what to do in order to avoid infection and thus a sudden “lice alarm” in schools and daycare centers. Education in community facilities and proactive action are the key in the fight against head lice!