Baş Biti Nasıl Çalışır?

If your head starts to itch, there could be several reasons why. You could have a dry scalp. You could be having an allergic reaction to something. Or your head could be infested with tiny parasites that are feeding on your blood. Although the latter case might sound a little terrifying, it's really just an inconvenience, much like dry scalp or an allergic reaction. Those little parasites are called head lice, and aside from making your head itch, they aren't going to cause you any harm. Head lice are also known as Pediculus capitus, and an infestation is commonly referred to as pediculiasis. They're actually quite common, and if you become infested, it's nothing to be embarrassed about.

Baş biti hakkında birkaç yanlış anlama var. Örneğin, çoğu insan onları kötü hijyen nedeniyle aldığınızı düşünür. Ancak, son derece temiz olmanız önemli değil; hala baş biti ile sonuçlanabilir. Çoğu zaman, küçük çocuklar musallat olanlardır. Yakın temas, kıyafetleri paylaşma veya onları yakın bir yerde bir araya getiren başka herhangi bir davranış türü yoluyla akranlarına bit geçirme olasılıkları daha yüksektir [kaynak: Perlstein ]. Neyse ki, bitler kafa derisinden uzakta uzun süre yaşayamaz, bu nedenle onları başka bir yoldan alma şansı azdır.

If you do end up with head lice, the good news is that the condition is easily treatable. The right shampoo and a little extra care can easily treat your parasite problem. The key is in following the directions. There are also several steps you can take to prevent getting lice in the first place. There are even a few homemade remedies that may be able to take care of the problem. After all, lice were around long before modern medicine -- they've actually been found on the remains of ancient mummies [source: Pollack].

The first step in figuring out whether or not you have lice is identifying the symptoms. Keep reading to find out exactly what they are.

1. Head Lice Symptoms
2. How to Prevent Head Lice
3. Head Lice Treatments
4. Home Remedies for Head Lice

You may have lice and not even know it. The problem is that sometimes they make people's heads itch, and sometimes they don't. If they don't, you simply wouldn't know that your head was infested with parasites. There is often a tickling sensation associated with lice, however, but it's not the kind that makes you want to laugh. It's more likely to be an uncomfortable and irritating nuisance. Whether lice make you itch or tickle, the most common reaction is scratching, and that's where physical symptoms start appearing.

Bitlerle ilişkili kaşıntı aslında tükürüklerine karşı alerjik bir reaksiyondur [kaynak: Mayo Clinic ]. Bu, kafa derinizde kırmızı yumrulara neden olabilir, ancak çok fazla kaşınarak çarpmalara ve tahriş olmuş yaralara da neden olabilirsiniz. Bazı durumlarda, bu, antibiyotiklerle tedavi gerektiren bir bakteriyel enfeksiyona bile yol açabilir [kaynak: Gavin ]. Ancak bu en uç noktadır. Bitlerle enfekte olan çoğu insan hafif tahriş yaşar ve sorunu tanımlamanın tek yolu dikkatli gözlemdir.

Bitler küçüktür, ancak onları göremeyecek kadar küçük değildirler. Sizin veya bir başkasının biti olup olmadığını belirlemenin kolay yolu, kafa derisini hızlı bir şekilde incelemektir. Temel olarak aranacak üç şey vardır: sirkeler, periler ve bitler. Genç bitler olan perileri ve bitleri görmek kolay değildir. Susam tanesi büyüklüğündeler ve hızlı hareket ediyorlar. Bir bakış yakalarsanız, şanslısınız. Bulmanız daha olası olan şey sirkeler veya bit yumurtalarıdır. Bu minik yumurtalar sarı, ten rengi veya kahverengi olabilir ve onları kafa derisinin yakınındaki saç tellerine yapışmış halde bulabilirsiniz. Yattıktan bir ila iki hafta sonra yumurtadan çıkarlar, bu yüzden herhangi birini bulursanız, saç derisini ve saçı hemen tedavi edin [kaynak: Gavin ].

Bitleri önlemek her zaman kolay değildir, ancak istila etme şansınızı azaltmak için yapabileceğiniz birkaç şey vardır. Ne olduklarını öğrenmek için okumaya devam edin.

Rakamlarla

Baş bitinin altı bacağı vardır ve 1/16 ila 1/8 inç uzunluğundadır (0,16 ila 0,32 santimetre). 30 güne kadar kafanızda hayatta kalabilirler ve dişiler bu süre zarfında her biri yaklaşık 90 yumurta bırakarak meşgul olacaktır [kaynak: Maine Üniversitesi ].

Çocuklar, başkalarıyla etkileşimlerinde daha kaygısız olma eğiliminde oldukları için genellikle bitlerin istilasına uğrarlar. İki çocuğun bir şapkayı veya başka bir giysiyi paylaşması alışılmadık bir durum değil. Aynı yatakta uyuyabilir veya okulda uzun süre yakın temas halinde olabilirler. Bu tür davranışlar normaldir, ancak aynı zamanda çocukların daha fazla risk altında olmasının nedeni de budur. İşte çocuğunuza veya kendinize bit bulaşmasını önlemek için yapabilecekleriniz.

Bit almanın en yaygın yolu baştan başa temastır. Çocuğunuzla bu tür bir etkileşimden kaçınması hakkında konuşun. Her zaman kolay değildir, ancak çocukları baş bitinin potansiyel olarak rahatsız edici semptomları hakkında eğitmek bir fark yaratmak için yeterli olabilir. Saça dokunan her şeyi paylaşmak da iyi bir fikir değil. Buna şapkalar, eşarplar, saç tokaları, havlular ve yaygın olarak paylaşılan diğer birkaç ürün dahildir. Tarak ve fırçaların dikkate alınması son derece önemlidir. Kullanımlar arasında, her ikisi de kendilerine yapışabilecek bitleri yıkamak için sıcak suya batırılmalıdır [kaynak: Hastalık Kontrol Merkezleri ].

If you know someone who has been infested, avoid using furniture they were recently in contact with. The same goes for blankets and toys, especially stuffed animals. Anything an infected person has come in contact with that can and should be washed. Use hot water and high heat when drying. If something can't be washed, simply seal it in a plastic bag for a couple of weeks. You can vacuum as well, but this can be a last resort. The chances of someone becoming infested by lice that have fallen off and made their way onto your carpet are slim [source: Centers for Disease Control].

Despite your best efforts, you or your child may still end up with lice. Keep reading to learn about treatment options.

September Is For Prevention

Since 1985, September has been National Head Lice Prevention month. The National Pediculosis Association started this month of awareness in hopes of educating parents, children and schools about preventing and treating head lice safely [source: PR Web].

Getting rid of lice isn't complicated. It can be as simple as taking a trip down to the local drug store. Most of time, you won't even have to go see a doctor. There are several over-the-counter treatment options available. You just need to know what you're looking for. Medicated shampoos are among the most popular. They're easy to use, and more often than not, they're effective. When picking one out, look for pyrethin or permethrin in the ingredients. Two of the most popular brands are Rid and Nix. Whichever product you decide to use, follow the directions as closely as possible for the best results [source: Mayo Clinic].

Unfortunately, even if you follow the directions perfectly, it may not be enough. Lice in some parts of the world have become resistant to many over-the-counter treatments. If your lice are a little too resilient, you may need a prescription to coax them off. Malathion, lindane and benzoyl alcohol lotion are three commonly prescribed treatments for lice. Malathion is an insecticide, and in low doses it's safe to use on humans. It's simply applied to your hair and rubbed into your scalp. Malathion is flammable, so be careful around any open flames. You may also want to avoid it if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. Lindane comes in several different forms, including creams and shampoos. It's considered a safe treatment, but it has been known to cause skin irritation and seizures in some patients. Benzoyl alcohol lotion is a newer treatment; although it's effective and safe for adults, it shouldn't be used on infants under six months of age. Doing so could result in seizures, coma or even death [source: Mayo Clinic].

No matter what treatment you end up going with, you'll still have some work to do when it's all over. While most products are great at killing lice, they don't get rid of nits, and that means in one to two weeks you're likely to have a new infestation. You can remove nits by hand or buy a special comb while you're at the drug store. Either way, this last step should be repeated until all signs of the lice infestation have disappeared [source: Family Doctor].

There may be a few home remedies that are effective at removing those lingering lice as well. Keep reading to learn more about them.

A Common Parasite

Head lice infestations are very common; it's estimated that one in every 10 school children will become infested with the parasites during their elementary school years. The cost of these infestations in the U.S. alone is said to be almost $1 billion [source: Perlstein].

There's a lot of debate about whether or not home remedies can actually get rid of lice. What we do know is that lice have been around for a long time, whereas medicated shampoos haven't. So that means before commercial treatments, people either lived with the parasites or they found other ways to get rid of them. Many of the medicated treatments used today are effective, but they also contain pesticides, and misuse could lead to some serious side effects. For this reason alone, some people shy away from these treatment options.

If you want to try a pesticide-free home remedy, there are a few that have withstood the test of time. White vinegar is perhaps the most popular. The important thing to keep in mind is that this treatment won't kill lice or nits. It simply loosens lice eggs from hair shafts and allows them to be easily removed. All you have to do is soak your hair in white vinegar, wrap your head in a towel that's also been soaked in white vinegar, leave it on for about an hour, and then have someone pick the nits out of your hair.

Oil-based treatments are another option. Some people recommend covering your head in mayonnaise or olive oil and then covering it with a shower cap or plastic wrap. If you try this out, blow-dry your hair with the plastic covering still on. The heat may be enough to kill the lice. Leave the covering on for about two hours, and then use a special nit-removing comb to get rid of all the nits in your hair. When you're done, shampoo your hair and comb it again with the special comb. Vaseline can be used instead of mayonnaise or olive oil, but it's a lot harder to get out of your hair, so be careful.

While these home remedies might help get rid of nits, none of them have ever been proven effective at eliminating lice completely. The only other natural treatment is shaving off all of your hair. This isn't an option for everyone, but for those who are willing to go bald for a few weeks, it can actually work. Just make sure you dispose of the infested hair properly in a sealed plastic bag [source: WebMD].

If you still have questions about head lice, see the links on the next page for lots more information.

Lice and Your Pets

People often wonder if they can get lice from their pets, but it's impossible. Lice aren't like fleas. They are human parasites, and they need human blood to survive. You can't get lice from your pet, and your pet can't get lice form you [source: The National Pediculosis Assocation].

Related Articles