Infestations of lice (pediculosis) are becoming widespread throughout the world, even in the more developed countries.
Infection only occurs upon contact: lice cannot fly, jump or swim, they only spread by passing from head to head. Anyone with hair can become infested, but the presence of lice is particularly common among school-age children ― that is between 4 and 13 years of age ― when their heads often come into contact, both at school and at play.
Despite the measures taken to combat lice, their spread is on the rise.
Recent studies have shown that in some American and English schools, approximately 50% of the children are affected by lice at least once a year (September 2004). Currently, between 6 and 12 million children are treated annually in Europe for lice (Atkinson et al. 1986).
The reasons for the spread:
Infection only occurs upon contact: lice cannot fly, jump or swim, they only spread by passing from head to head. Anyone with hair can become infested, but the presence of lice is particularly common among school-age children ― that is between 4 and 13 years of age ― when their heads often come into contact, both at school and at play.
Despite the measures taken to combat lice, their spread is on the rise.
Recent studies have shown that in some American and English schools, approximately 50% of the children are affected by lice at least once a year (September 2004). Currently, between 6 and 12 million children are treated annually in Europe for lice (Atkinson et al. 1986).
The reasons for the spread:
- some insecticide-resistant strains of lice are developing
- many of the products available are ineffective
- often the products are not used correctly
- many products are too aggressive for the hair and can be toxic so their use is limited and intermittent
