One topic most people don’t want to talk about is lice the common name for members of more than 3,000 species of wingless insects, three of which are classified as carriers of human disease.

Not talking about lice has contributed to a problem that is increasingly common in homes, camps, schools and, you guessed it, even some of the best hotels and facilities in the U.S. and the world. Contrary to typical assumptions, lice don’t just turn up in dirty facilities and homes–they love clean people and places as well.

Lice Are Big Business

A Louse (plural Lice) is a parasite that feeds on human blood. In humans various species of louse inhabit the scalp and pubic hair. They spread readily, which is why an infestation in a single child or individual can quickly cause a virtual epidemic in locations such as schools. When any member of a family is affected by lice, it is typically necessary for everyone in the home to participate in treatment. However, lice cannot survive for long if removed from the host.

A louse’s color varies from pale beige to dark gray; if feeding on blood, it can become considerably darker. A louse’s egg is commonly called a nit. Lice often attach eggs to the host’s hair with specialized saliva, creating a bond that is very difficult to sever without specialized remedies.

And they are tough to get rid of.

Self-Treatment and Pesticides

The treatment of head louse infestation is more or less a family affair. For years, home treatments have been fraught with difficulty. Neurotoxic insecticides are not only harsh or even dangerous, but these therapies are progressively losing effectiveness as head lice rapidly develop resistance to each new insecticide the therapies use.

Recently, people are turning away from home de-lousing in favor of new technology that can be administered in a single professional treatment. A popular new choice is AirAlle (pronounced air-a-lay), from Larada Sciences. This relatively new technology provides a treatment alternative that is based on an easy to use FDA cleared and CE marked medical device that kills lice and lice eggs by dehydrating them with heated air.

Who’s On Board?

Healthcare professionals and lice-removal experts around the world are using these new devices to treat lice without the use of pesticides. An increasing number of service providers are also using this new variety of therapy as the basis for home and professional businesses or as additional services their current personal care or healthcare practice businesses can provide as an additional line of service and an additional revenue base.

Regardless of the therapies used, it’s time to get the issue of lice back into the open. Education about the issues and alternatives for dealing with lice infestation can make a considerable difference to the thousands of individuals and families who face this pernicious issue each year.

It’s not about being dirty; it’s about finding realistic solutions to eliminate the pesky and disease carrying critters that can turn up in even the cleanest facilities and homes.

About Author :  Tom Lowery is an entrepreneur, writer and corporate training specialist who enjoys writing about people, interpersonal skills and business.
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