The truth behind lice

MANILA, Philippines -  Lie No. 1: Kuto is transmitted because they jump or fly.

Truth: Head lice or kuto are tiny, wingless parasitic insects that thrive on a person’s hair and scalp. Since kuto can’t fly or walk on the ground, they spread via head-to-head or body-to-body contact. The idea that lice can jump may have come from the fact that, when dry hair is combed, a head louse caught on the teeth of the comb is sometimes flicked off by static electricity, according to the Southern Louisiana Medical and Public Health website. 

Lie No. 2: Kids with long hair are more prone to head lice.

Truth: According to the Illinois Department of Health, “The prevalence of head lice infestation is no different in individuals with long hair than in those with short hair.” Head lice don’t thrive on hair; they feed on blood drawn from a person’s scalp.

Lie No. 3: Only poor people get kuto.

Truth: Kuto doesn’t discriminate. Rich or poor, dark or fair, head lice, being parasites, will set up house on anyone’s head.

Lie No. 4: Only dirty people get kuto.

Truth: Like Lie No. 3, head lice don’t discriminate. As kid’s health.org. explains, “Anyone who says that people who get lice are dirty doesn’t know that lice love everyone and that includes the cleanest kid in class!”

Lie No. 5: Head lice are harmless.

Truth: Head lice is a medical condition; therefore, it must be treated. They cause frequent scratching of the head, which may lead to the breaking of the scalp, causing minor wounds that may lead to infection. In fact, a study conducted by the Department of Education and the University of the Philippines found that kuto was the third highest medical problem among public school children, the first two being tooth decay and dental problems.

Lie No. 6: You can get lice from chairs or furniture.

Truth: There’s some truth behind this misconception, because lice left on the headrest of a chair or a sofa can crawl to a person’s hair and attach itself on the scalp. However, kuto can’t live more than an hour or two away from its host-scalp so the likelihood of this happening is slim.

Lie No. 7: Suyod or fine-tooth combs are the best way to get rid of lice.

Truth: Suyod is effective is determining the presence of head lice. But in getting rid of them, less so. Combing out lice and nits is time-consuming. It may remove some head lice, but it may not completely eliminate the infestation.

Lie No. 8: Lice treatment shampoos are toxic.

Truth: Not anymore. Lamoiyan’s Licealiz Shampoo contains the active ingredient pyrethrin, which is naturally derived from chrysanthemum flower extracts. Sources from the Education Department and the Philippine Dermatological Society endorse pyrethin as safe and reliable in removing head-lice and their eggs. In prescribed doses, the pyrethin-formulated Licealiz Shampoo is safe and effective even for use of children as young as six years. Licealiz is applied on the hair like regular shampoo, and for better results, leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing. If your kids have head lice, the recommended application is only twice a week for two weeks.

Lie No. 9: Lice treatment shampoos are expensive.

Truth: Licealiz is priced up to 50 percent lower than competing brands and has also been made available in convenient and even more affordable 10ml sachet packs. It is available in leading drugstores, supermarkets, and department stores nationwide

Lie No. 10: Lice treatment shampoos make the hair dull.

Truth: Licealiz offers two main benefits. Unlike other lice-treatment shampoos, Licealiz contains a hair-conditioning formulation that keeps your children’s hair soft and healthy.