Peak season for lice – this is what you do

The start of school means a high season for lice, which spread when children's heads meet again after the summer vacation. But there are a few tips on how to stop the plague. Combing is absolutely essential here, says pharmacist Catharina Claesson.

» Published: September 02 2024

Peak season for lice – this is what you do
Photo: Anders Humlebo

A new school year inevitably means a new start for head lice as well, and it usually doesn't take long before warning signs are posted.

Right after the summer, when schools and preschools start up, the problems with head lice increase, says Catharina Claesson, pharmacist at Apotek Hjärtat.

The lice are more active during the summer months. But it's not until the school starts that the major spread begins.

You might look in a book or pad together with heads together, says Claesson.

Lice irritation

From the time the lice move in, it can take four to six weeks before it starts to itch, says Camilla af Petersens, pharmacist at Apoteket.

The itching itself is caused by the lice's saliva. You become a little oversensitive and it starts to itch, she says.

The peak in lice medicine sales has been reached in September in recent years, according to sales data from Apoteket, Apotek Hjärtat, and Kronans Apotek.

A recommendation is to preventively comb through the hair with a lice comb, preferably over a sink or paper.

Then you see the lice. You can also see the eggs, which sit as small yellowish dots in the hair, says Claesson.

af Petersens agrees:

Have a lice comb and lice medicine at home. There's not much you can do to prevent more than just then.

"Don't panic"

The recommendation is to treat all family members where you discover living lice. If three out of four have lice, Claesson thinks you should also treat the fourth.

The medications recommended first today do not give rise to resistance development – so you can use them without risk.

It's also important to repeat the treatment after seven to ten days, and to continue combing to get rid of lice and eggs that may have survived the treatment.

Combing is absolutely essential here. And also that you continue to comb even after treatment to see that all lice are really gone, says Catharina Claesson.

Camilla af Petersens emphasizes that you don't need to sanitize the home.

You don't need to panic and wash bedclothes and so on. Lice only survive 24 hours outside the head, she says.

Gustav Sjöholm/TT

Facts: Tips against lice

+ Comb in a preventive manner, preferably over a sink or white paper so that the lice are more visible.

+ Comb through the entire hair carefully, from the scalp and along the entire hair strand.

+ It can be easier to comb if the hair is slightly damp, or if you use a conditioner spray.

+ If you discover lice, notify the preschool and school, as well as others who the affected person may have had close contact with.

+ Braid hair on people with long hair.

+ There are preventive sprays you can try, with a scent that head lice don't like.

+ Although the risk of spread via hats and caps is small, it may be a good idea to avoid sharing headgear.

+ Do an extra treatment after seven to ten days, even if the package says it's a one-time treatment.

+ Head lice have nothing to do with hygiene, but thrive even better in clean hair.

+ Lice live on human blood sucked from the scalp. Their saliva is what causes itching. Lice climb on hair strands. They can't fly or jump.

+ Lice spread from head to head, and possibly from combs and brushes.

+ Lice thrive best in hair that is at least three centimeters long.

+ Lice outside the hair are weakened and die within a day.

Source: 1177

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Sweden's Ugliest Building: New Lund
1 MIN READ

Sweden's Ugliest Building: New Lund House Sparks Debate

Swedish Teen Sentenced to 10
1 MIN READ

Swedish Teen Sentenced to 10 Years in Denmark for Explosives Transport

Sweden Proposes Profit Ban for
1 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Profit Ban for New Independent Schools

Man at Arlanda Airport Found
1 MIN READ

Man at Arlanda Airport Found with 7,000 Dollars in Cash

Swedish Minister Pushes for Journalist's
2 MIN READ

Swedish Minister Pushes for Journalist's Release in Talks with Turkey

Queen Silvia Resting After Successful
1 MIN READ

Queen Silvia Resting After Successful Foot Surgery

Police Clarify Timeline in Örebro
1 MIN READ

Police Clarify Timeline in Örebro Shooting Investigation

Busch Criticizes Influencers for Fueling
2 MIN READ

Busch Criticizes Influencers for Fueling Body Image Issues in Youth

Energy Minister Ebba Busch Faces
1 MIN READ

Energy Minister Ebba Busch Faces Constitutional Committee Review

Invasive Leaf Flatworm Detected in
1 MIN READ

Invasive Leaf Flatworm Detected in Blekinge, Raising Concerns

Carbon Monoxide Blamed for Kebnekaise
1 MIN READ

Carbon Monoxide Blamed for Kebnekaise Deaths, No Crime Suspected

Two Sentenced for Unexploded Grenade
1 MIN READ

Two Sentenced for Unexploded Grenade Attack on Malmö Restaurant

Simona Mohamsson Takes Charge to
3 MIN READ

Simona Mohamsson Takes Charge to Revitalize Sweden's Liberal Party

Record Number of Swedes Register
1 MIN READ

Record Number of Swedes Register for University Entrance Exam

Shots Fired at House in
1 MIN READ

Shots Fired at House in Hudiksvall, Police Investigate Attempted Murder

15-Year-Old Girl Suspected in Eslöv
1 MIN READ

15-Year-Old Girl Suspected in Eslöv Bus Stabbing Incident

Demirok Steps Down as Center
1 MIN READ

Demirok Steps Down as Center Party Leader Citing Internal Leaks

Swedish Care Worker Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Swedish Care Worker Jailed for Defrauding Elderly of Millions

Ancient Greek Harbor Unearthed by
3 MIN READ

Ancient Greek Harbor Unearthed by Stockholm University Team

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One
1 MIN READ

Suspected Murder in Hässleholm: One Person Detained

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus
1 MIN READ

Teenage Girl Stabbed on Bus in Eslöv; Four Teens Arrested

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces
1 MIN READ

Ex-Regional Official in Sweden Faces Charges in Pension Fund Bribery Case

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower
2 MIN READ

Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Older Adults

Critics Challenge Proposal to End
3 MIN READ

Critics Challenge Proposal to End Summer Grazing for Swedish Dairy Cows

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery
1 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Transparency for Lottery Purchases Supporting Parties

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man's Death in Gullspång Fire Investigated as Suspected Murder

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids
1 MIN READ

Sweden Tightens Control on Opioids and Hazardous Substances

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact
2 MIN READ

Sweden Braces for Economic Impact from US Tariffs, Government Warns

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Faces Arson Charges for House Fire in Norway

Man Charged in Fatal Lund
1 MIN READ

Man Charged in Fatal Lund Knife Attack Linked to Drug Deal

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by
1 MIN READ

Electric Scooter Accidents Surge by 30 Percent in 2024, Young Riders Most Affected

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for
1 MIN READ

Skåne Manager Faces Charges for Embezzling Millions from Municipalities

Teen Faces Court in Sweden
2 MIN READ

Teen Faces Court in Sweden for Alleged Sect-Linked Knife Attack

Elderly Man Critically Injured in
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man Critically Injured in Kävlinge Villa Fire

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief
1 MIN READ

Somalia Expels Swedish Aid Chief Anna Saleem Högberg

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at
2 MIN READ

Sweden Proposes Tighter Security at Migration Detention Centers

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Swedish Foreign Minister to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to
1 MIN READ

Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm to Close Following Riksdag Decision

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss
2 MIN READ

Sweden's Malmer Stenergard to Discuss Journalist's Detention with Turkey

Parents in Sweden Jailed for
1 MIN READ

Parents in Sweden Jailed for Locking Children in Basement