Where do linen lice come from, how to get rid of them and cure the consequences of bites?

Linen lice are a subspecies human lice. They were singled out in a separate group because of the peculiarities of existence - unlike head parasites, these insects do not live on parts of the human body covered with hair, but on clothes. Moreover, during the period of their evolution, they were able to adapt to life as much as possible on clothes, therefore, their existence on the human body became almost impossible for them. Let's get to know these parasites better, to be fully armed after they appear.

Like head, linen louse is dependent on environmental conditions and the lifestyle of its owner. And having become acquainted with the features of its existence, you can quickly rid your home of these parasites without the use of toxic drugs.

Insect biology

To begin, let's find out what linen lice look like. In appearance, they are similar to head parasites - they have the same small body, the length of which reaches 3 mm. There are no wings, the abdomen is elongated, painted very light almost white, after saturation, when blood enters the digestive tract, it acquires a red, sometimes brownish tint. If you look closely, you can distinguish the presence of a curly border on the edges of the abdomen, which appears after the stomach is released due to the compression of the abdomen.

The larvae of these insects are very similar to their adult relatives, only they are smaller. And linen nits practically do not differ from head nits, but the first can be found only in clothes: in folds, folds, at the bottom and in the inner corners of pockets. But with the naked eye it is quite difficult to consider them, since the length of their body is only 1.5 mm. Especially when the color of the clothes matches the color of the nits.
Linen lice try to stay in groups. It is their clusters that attract attention. Outwardly, the parasites gathered together look like small white grains, but if you look closely, you can distinguish their powerful legs and understand that these are lice.

Where do they live and what do they eat?

These insects spend most of their time on clothing - there they multiply and rest. They move to the human body only in order to get enough of blood. And since they live on underwear, the food source is in close proximity to them.

White lice eat exclusively human blood - they pierce the skin with their mouth apparatus, on which there are stylet-shaped outgrowths, and inject a secret that helps to reduce blood coagulation.

On a note! It is this secret that causes an allergic reaction from the body of some people. With a large number of bites, inflammation merges into bluish spots.

For the normal functioning of bed lice, certain conditions are necessary:

• humid air, low humidity parasites die when the thermometer exceeds + 40 ° C or falls below + 5 ° C;
• optimal temperature conditions with sufficient humidity for adults range from 0 to + 45 ° C;
• nymphs can remain viable in the temperature range from +5 to + 40 ° Celsius;
• active reproduction occurs at an air temperature of + 31 ° C.

The life cycle of adult lice takes approximately 40 days. If the ambient temperature drops, insects become smaller, and their lifespan increases slightly.

Methods of infection

Where do the louse lice come from? These parasites are transmitted between people in several ways:

• during bodily contact, even if it is short-term;
• in crowded places, where, one way or another, close contact occurs - public transport, crowds, kindergartens;
  
• when clothes are used by more than one person;
• during joint storage of garments.

To avoid being infected with linen lice, it is better to bypass the place of presence of declassified citizens, keep personal items neatly and separately from everyone if you are on vacation, and remain vigilant while in public transport.

Symptoms of the appearance of bloodsuckers

The main problem that occurs when infected with linen lice is their bites. Since these parasites do not have a special proboscis, like other bloodsuckers, they are forced to immerse their heads in skin folds to get to a blood vessel. Because of this, the lesion site is quite large.

Recognize bites of linen lice by the following symptoms:

• an allergic reaction after an attack of parasites - headache, fever, nausea;
• severe itching;
• the affected areas are covered with spots and rashes;
• with severe infection, boils, ulcers and pyoderma can occur;
• pustular rashes;
• disorders of the nervous system, insomnia.

In most cases, a person learns about the presence of parasites not by the insect found on the body, but by feeling the characteristic symptoms after their attack. And it is very important in such cases not to lose time, but to immediately begin the fight against bloodsuckers.

On a note! The development of furunculosis and purulent wounds is not the most terrible consequences of the activity of linen lice. These parasites are carriers of deadly diseases - relapsing fever and typhus.

Methods of disposal and treatment

How to get rid of linen lice? In fact, this process is quite simple, and with the timely detection of these parasites, as well as using the right tactics, this can be done in one day.

The first and easiest way is to contact the appropriate service. Representatives of the sanitary structure will quickly and efficiently carry out work on the destruction of parasites - a positive result in this case is achieved in just a few hours.

But you can bring out lice lice on your own. To do this, do the following:

• handle clothes and other contaminated items. Here you can use several options: put everything in dry cleaning, boil or overdo it in automatic mode at maximum temperature with the use of clothes lice; if such is not at hand, then folk remedies are allowed to be used - tar soap either vinegar;
• a person whose things were infected with insects should thoroughly wash his body, for this they usually use a pediculicidal shampoo or cream. The product is applied to the skin and washed off after half an hour, after which it is rinsed with plenty of water;
  
• after such “water procedures”, it is necessary to put on clean things - those that were stored separately and were not infected, or processed clothes that, after washing, were weathered in the fresh air for 2 weeks.
  

  Important! Bed linen, bedspreads will require a change, it may be necessary to hand over the feather pillows to dry cleaning.

Parasite Remedies

1. To remove linen lice from the scalp use the following tools:
   • Nit free;
   • Nittifora;
   • Para-Plus.

   On a note! Previously, to combat lice on the body used vinegar and kerosene, but these funds are quite aggressive and less effective compared to modern antiparasitic drugs.

2. In addition, on sale you can find special combs with which lice are combed out of the hair. Such devices differ from conventional combs in the small distance between the teeth, and the teeth themselves are made of dense, stiff material. Combs are effective against both lice and nits.

Important! The fight against linen lice should be complex, that is, wash clothes and process the body should be on the same day.

Treatment

Single bites of linen lice often do not require treatment, they usually do not leave serious damage to the skin and pass on their own. But if pediculosis "gained momentum" and a rather severe itch appeared, then in this case the following remedies can be used:

• hydrogen peroxide - it is used to treat fresh bites when the damaged area has not yet been crusted;
  

  Important! Peroxide is primarily necessary for the disinfection of damaged skin!

• hydrocortisone ointment - it is applied to avoid the development of an allergic reaction;
• balm "Rescuer" or "Asterisk" - these funds eliminate itching and reduce inflammation.

Important! If pustular inflammation, an abundant rash, and other manifestations of acute head lice appear on the body, you must immediately seek qualified medical help and in no case do self-medication!

Remember that it is much easier to avoid infection than to fight with lice lice and treat the consequences of their bites. Therefore, take care of yourself and be vigilant!