Dangers of Untreated Lice

Almost everyone is familiar with the symptoms of head lice. The irritation, the rash, and the constant, insatiable itching usually provide enough motivation to seek treatment sooner rather than later, but what would happen if you were to try and wait out the lice situation? Lice don’t live very long, so maybe it would work, right? Nope. Though lice do only live for about a month, they have plenty of time within that period to reproduce, lay eggs, and spread to others. Lice get down to business as soon as they can get cozy in your hair, so it is important to deal with them before they have time to reproduce. Here are some of the problems that can occur from delaying head lice treatment.

Cellulitis and Bacterial Infection

One of the first major problems that come from delaying head lice treatment is a bacterial infection. Once head lice have set up camp in your hair, the scalp usually becomes very irritated and itchy. Scratching at the irritated skin leaves tiny cuts, cuts that allow the saliva of the head lice to enter the bloodstream. Once the bacteria from the saliva has gotten under your skin, infection is soon to follow. Cellulitis is just one form of infection that stems from untreated lice. If the infection continues untreated, it can spread to the lymph nodes, elevating the situation from a regular case of head lice to a life-threatening bacterial infection. Once the situation progresses to this level, it takes a substantial course of antibiotics to eliminate the infection.

Spread to Others

The biggest issue that comes from delaying head lice treatment is that it allows for the problem to spread to others. Once lice find a food source, making eggs becomes the number one priority. One might as, “how long can lice live off humans?” Once the head lice starts laying eggs, the infestation will only worsen exponentially until something is done to take care of the lice. One louse can give produce from six to eight eggs every day, which means that just one of these little parasites can make over two hundred more of itself in just a few weeks. Lice can spread from head to head but they can also get onto the surfaces around us. By waiting to get treatment, lice are given more time to spread from your head to the people around you, whether it be directly or from something you were in contact with. If you want to do the right thing, be sure to take care of the lice before they have a chance to harm others.

Lice Clinics of America

If you know someone that thinks they might be dealing with head lice, then it is important that they seek treatment as soon as possible. Head lice doesn’t go away over time. Here at Lice Clinics of America in Green Bay, we provide the largest professional lice removal service, with over 950,000 successful treatments. If you want to know more about head lice treatment, or you are interested in booking an appointment, select the book now button at the top of this page.