Dangers of Untreated Lice

Procrastination is a problem for many people. Whether it is putting off the dishes or waiting until the last second to get the repair you need for your car, almost everyone can agree that waiting too long to solve a problem usually leads to more problems. Dealing with head lice is much the same. Though head lice have a short life span of roughly 30 days, that is more than enough time for a case of lice to multiply into an infestation. Here are a few dangers of untreated head lice that you can avoid by dealing with these parasites quickly. 

Intense Itching And Head Lice Bites

Discovering that you have head lice can be stressful. Most head lice patients have a few burning questions that they want to be answered as soon as they discover these bugs in their hair. “How long have I had lice? How long until they’re gone? Do I have to call out of work?” 

Though there is no way to know exactly how long you’ve had lice, you can get a feel for the duration of your head lice case by studying the number of nits, nymphs, and adult lice. If there are only a few nits in your hair, there may still be time to deal with the head lice before the itching sets in. The irritation associated with lice usually takes a week or two to begin, and once it does, the itch is insatiable. After the nits have hatched, they will begin feeding on the scalp, sucking up blood, and leaving lice bites on your head. 

Bacterial Infection

The intense itch paired with the open lice bite wounds and rash is the perfect recipe for bacterial infection. Scratching at the itchy rash and louse bites can leave tiny cuts on the scalp, allowing for bacteria from the head lice to enter the bloodstream. Once these germs have entered the blood, they can cause cellulitis and a dreadful bacterial infection. Left untreated, this infection can spread to the lymph nodes, becoming a life-threatening issue. Once a case of head lice has progressed to this level, it takes a trip to the doctor and a course of antibiotics to kill the infection. 

The Spread Of Head Lice 

One of the biggest issues that stem from delayed head lice treatment is the spread of head lice to those around you. Once head lice have established themselves on the head of a host, priority number one is reproduction. Once reproduction begins, their numbers will grow exponentially until they are dealt with. Waiting for head lice to go away on their own gives them more time to build up a base in your hair while they search for new homes on the heads of those around you. If you begin to notice symptoms of lice, do your friends and family a favor and deal with them as soon as possible!

Find Lice Removal In Charlotte, NC

If you or a family member is dealing with a case of head lice, they must seek treatment as soon as possible. Here at Lice Clinics Charlotte, NC, we specialize in a chemical-free head lice treatment. Our AirTral lice removal device uses heat and air to detach the head lice from the scalp, guaranteeing a lice-free scalp in just 90 min. If you would like to learn more about our head lice removal service or schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to contact us today.