Important! You can only become infected with lice from an infected person through close contact.

Under what circumstances can lice infestation occur:

Pediculosis due to nervousness - myth or reality?

Can a person get lice due to severe nervous shock? The answer is clear - “no”.

If a person did not come into contact with an infected person or his personal items, then he could not become infected with lice.

Reference: psychosomatics studies the influence of psychological factors on the emergence and development of bodily diseases.

An itchy scalp may also indicate other diseases, such as:

• Scabies. The scabies mite lives under the skin. The movements of this insect cause unbearable itching. Most often, scabies mites live on areas of the body where there is no hair, but sometimes they are found on the scalp. A specialist can identify it by the characteristic passages that remain on the skin.

• Dry scalp. A lack of moisture and nutrients in the scalp area causes it to dry out. A person feels a slight itch, dry dandruff appears, and the hair becomes dull and brittle.

Why won't stress be a catalyst for illness?

If you place a person in an isolated, completely sterile room and subject him to extreme stress, then even in such circumstances he will not get lice. After all, the whole point is that these insects simply have nowhere to come from.

Most people assume that pediculosis affects disadvantaged citizens who lead an immoral lifestyle. But this is not always the case; there are several categories of people who are at risk of infection more often than the rest of the population. So, these categories include:

1. Children attending kindergarten, school and going to a sanatorium for the summer. Children are very active and inquisitive, they are often in close contact with peers, so outbreaks of head lice in children's groups are not uncommon.
2. Refugees, prisoners, soldiers. All people who, due to life circumstances, are forced to stay in closed spaces at the same time as a large number of other people.
3. Social workers. Due to their profession, social workers are forced to constantly be in contact with disadvantaged citizens, often suffering from head lice.

Perhaps precisely because pediculosis always appears unexpectedly, there are so many myths and assumptions associated with it. But you shouldn't believe everything. It has been scientifically proven that lice can only be transmitted from one person to another and nothing else.

Even animals such as dogs, cats, rats, mice are not carriers of lice. Even as a result of severe nervous shock, neither lice nor nits can appear on the human body.

The long-standing opinion that all diseases are caused by stress is ready to attribute the occurrence of head lice to the same reason. But you can affirm it as truly true only as a result of your own lack of education.

It is enough just to rely on laboratory studies, the results of which no one has kept secret for a long time, and the incompatibility of the nature of stress and the nature of lice becomes obvious.

The factors that provoke the occurrence of stress are of a psychosomatic nature, and lice are of a purely hygienic and social nature. And, knowing this, is it worth arguing about whether it is possible for lice to appear in often nervous, but socially prosperous people? Oddly enough, yes. But the reason is not stress at all.

Nervous lice – myth or reality?

What amazing stories have people come up with about the appearance of lice on humans! For example, that lice eggs, like a virus, are invisibly present in the upper layer of skin on the head. Allegedly, when a person is in a calm state, lice do not remind of themselves. But once you live for a long time in a state of nervous overstrain, insects begin to become more active and bother their host.

In modern society it is impossible to treat such a theory as anything other than a myth or relic of folk wisdom. After all, people have long noticed one of the obvious signs that appears both under stress and when infected with lice: a burning desire to scratch your head almost always appears due to nervousness, and with lice, this desire becomes even more obsessive. Therefore, not only in the wilderness, but also in cities, among the educated population, and today many people look for the cause of lice infection in the stress they experience. Wrong, of course.

Due to nervousness, the scalp may unpleasant itching and scratching, but this is a sign that the immune system is weakened and it’s time to treat the scalp. This is how dandruff or psoriasis may appear when hair is apparently clean.

A lice infestation can be confidently established only if, upon visual inspection of the head, translucent nit eggs in the form of small grains are visible on the hair, as if glued to the hair. There are a lot of them, but running insects are visible on the scalp with the naked eye? Probably, with such a neglected physical condition, your head can’t help but itch!

The results of numerous medical observations and scientific studies confidently confirm one thing: only lice do not appear on nerves and even the connection between these phenomena cannot be proven. It’s time to part with this wild myth and turn to the social causes of head lice.

Causes of lice

The only possible way to become infected with pediculosis is physical contact with its carrier. For this to happen, there must be at least contact between infected hair and healthy hair. This happens very quickly during games, wrestling, and sexual acts that involve close embraces of partners. It is not at all necessary to communicate with a homeless person or to be one in order to catch lice (as some are sure).

Socially prosperous citizens often find lice in their hair (or on their loved ones). All you have to do is travel on public transport during rush hour, hanging out side by side with a “pediculosis” passenger. Those at risk, first of all, are those who wear long, flowing hair: it is easy to touch anyone with it and unnoticed by them.

Those who like to try on other people's clothes, hats, and exchange towels should also be seriously wary. All foreign objects that are in close contact with the head can cause lice.

You should not sin on pets, from which supposedly lice can spread to humans. This is impossible simply because the insects that live in animal fur live only in it, and the human head louse, accordingly, does not spread to animals.

If a child from a prosperous family needs treatment for head lice after a vacation in a country camp, this means that the unit did not observe basic hygiene standards. Children who are not trained in the rules of caring for their own body easily use other people’s combs, change hair ties or barrettes, change unwashed suits and hats, and fur props during theatrical performances. Is it any wonder that lice will appear after this?

Lice can stay in water for a long time, which is why cases of infestation in public swimming pools are so common. If swimmers there, against all the rules, enter the water without a swimming cap, then there is no guarantee that they will not catch lice while swimming. It is impossible to know for sure whether there were “head lice” among the previous visitors to the pool.

Speaking about pubic or body lice, you should pay attention to the peculiarities of their name, which is the reason for their occurrence on the human body. Pubic louse can be contracted from contact with a sexual partner who is a carrier of this nuisance, or by swimming in stagnant open reservoirs with stale water. The body louse lives on unwashed, dusty things and clothes that are in close contact with the body.

Thus, the spontaneous “generation” of lice on the human body without close physical contact with the host is unthinkable!

How to protect yourself from lice?

To protect yourself from head lice once and for all, you need to follow basic rules of personal hygiene:

1. Do not give your personal belongings (towel, hair clips and ties, hats, hats, baseball caps and similar hats, panties) into the wrong hands and do not use things that are not yours that are in close contact with the body.
2. Do not go to bed on a pillow if there is a pillowcase on it after a stranger (for example, in a hotel or after a guest who spent the night).
3. Do not allow your hair to come into contact with other people’s, keep it tidy (put it in a smooth hairstyle or wear a shorter haircut, do not be bare-haired in public places).
4. Swim in the pool, protecting your head with a special cap. Do not swim in dirty natural bodies of water.
5. Keep clothing and personal items clean and tidy.

If these simple rules are strictly followed, then there is no need to be afraid of lice infection. And, of course, those who are susceptible to nervous overstrain should not be afraid of this scourge. In the twenty-first century, it is strange to follow popular speculation and neglect the advice of experts.

09.01.2016

No matter how many people explain the appearance of lice to themselves. One of the most absurd explanations for lice is that it is caused by nervousness. This article will discuss whether lice can be caused by nervousness, as well as the ways in which lice appear in a human home.

How do lice appear?

1. Head;
2. Pubic;
3. Linen.

The way lice appear on the head is associated with their transmission by contact. They find their way to new owners on various items and hygiene products. Among them are the following:

• Hats;
• Towels;
• Combs;
• Clothing (especially underwear);
• Bed dress;
• Common items;
• Hairdressing tool.

It is important! Cleanliness of premises, neatness and cleanliness, although they reduce the risk of lice infection, however, cannot be a guarantee that it will never happen.

The most reliable method of prevention is the use and high-temperature washing of clothes. Those who have encountered head lice know for sure whether lice can settle on linen or a person’s body from nerves, since they have already found out that the source of infection is the carrier person or his things.

It is important to know a few facts about lice that will help you feel more relaxed about the fact of this disease and quickly get rid of it:

• Lice prefer clean, well-groomed heads.
• Lice tolerate immersion in water quite well, so they can get on your head while visiting the pool.
• Hair coloring does not prevent the spread of these insects.
• The incubation period for nits getting on your hair is 2 weeks.

Nervous lice

The main risk group for lice is children attending kindergartens, schools, summer camps and other places where contact transmission of lice from carriers is possible. The discovery of head lice in a child in a children's group can cause him psychological trauma if it is made public in a rude manner. In addition, there is an opinion that pediculosis is the lot of untidy, poor families.

That is why there are various versions of the appearance of this disease. Here are the most popular ones:

1. Lice constantly live on a person’s head, but in stressful situations they “wake up” and begin to multiply.
2. Nerve lice appear as a reaction to negative human thoughts.
3. Lice from stress appear on the dirty head of those who are constantly in an excited state.
4. Lice resemble tumor cells and begin to multiply in a stressful situation for a person.

All these, as well as other versions of the reasons why lice appear, do not stand up to criticism. They could have been taken into account by ancient doctors or those who lived during the Lysenko era, which proved that mice could spontaneously germinate in rags and wheat. Modern medicine has long studied pediculosis and has not found any other means of transmission other than contact transmission for pediculosis. In addition, none of the above versions explains where those insects that “sleep” and do not manifest themselves come from on the human body.

Dermatological specialists, when asked whether lice can appear on nerves, answer in the negative. These insects are transmitted from a sick person to a healthy person exclusively through direct contact between two people or through contaminated things.

It should be noted that itching on the head and other hairy areas of the human body can be a consequence of a stressful state of the body. In this case, appropriate research is carried out to exclude pediculosis, since the fact that the scalp or pubic area itches does not always indicate that the patient has lice due to nerves.

Differential diagnosis of itching of the scalp consists of examining the hairs for the presence of nits. For this purpose, hair taken from the head or collected on the pillow in the morning is used.

Important! If the skin itches due to nervousness, over time bacteria will get into the scratches and a secondary infection may develop. In this case, doctors diagnose nervous dermatitis.

By studying the life cycle of lice, entomologists have found that these insects are unable to fast for a long time and die a few days after they find themselves outside the human body, without access to blood. Their maximum life time outside the human body is 2 days. Lice eggs are more resilient and remain viable for two months. Body lice are more resistant, and head lice are the most sensitive to the absence of a host. Therefore, when thinking about whether lice can come from nerves, it is important to know when, during the period of a nervous breakdown, contact with a carrier of these insects could occur.

Correct diagnosis is the key to quick and effective treatment of any disease. Therefore, those patients who are seriously wondering whether lice come from nerves should first consult a doctor, and then begin treatment for head lice at home. Treatment of head lice in its absence can cause aggravation of skin reactions, especially if aggressive substances such as kerosene, vinegar and the like are used:

• Nervous itching of the scalp. Knowing the answer to the question of whether lice can appear on a person from nerves, if itching appears during a stressful period, you should not immediately purchase insecticidal emulsions or cut your hair bald. The use of sedatives in this case effectively helps relieve itching. Breathing exercises and yoga will also be useful to eliminate the effects of stress.
• Subcutaneous mites. If the skin itches due to infection with a subcutaneous mite, then scraping will help make the correct diagnosis. Treatment consists of using acaricidal drugs rubbed into the skin, as well as drugs that stimulate the immune system.
• Allergic reactions. The scalp or pubic skin may itch due to the use of cosmetics that cause allergies. In this case, you should change them to hypoallergenic ones, and relieve the symptoms of allergic dermatitis with the help of antihistamines and special ointments.
• Fungal infection. It is usually a consequence of low immunity and often occurs during stress. Characterized by the appearance of dandruff and oily hair. Treated with fungicidal shampoos and tablets.

It is interesting that the opinion about the possibility of lice not being caused by nerves still exists among the population, and it is not always possible to hear it from illiterate residents of remote villages. The desire to protect yourself from ridicule when infected with these insects is too strong.

But where do human lice come from initially? There are many quite wild misconceptions that can be heard even from educated people, so today we will conduct a small “educational program on lice” and consider the main causes of lice.

By the way, lice can be of several types:

And if we look deeper into the problem of head lice, we can identify several main reasons.

Table. Where do lice come from?

Cause	Short description
	These are potential risk areas. A striking example would be, say, child care institutions. Children often become infected with head lice in kindergartens and schools.
	The risk of infection in such cases increases. And the point here is not only that there is not always access to the simplest hygiene procedures, but also that on the road you have to come into contact with a large number of people, including carriers of lice.
	This applies to places where large numbers of people live (summer camps, prisons, etc.).
Important information! According to statistics, lice most often become infected in the autumn and winter, when people spend most of their time indoors, actively contacting each other. Misconceptions about head lice infestation There are several myths that definitely need to be debunked. Let's start with the most popular. Misconception #1. Dirt Misconception No. 2. Stressful situations Important information! Pediculosis cannot develop as a result of stress; this statement has no evidence at all. Moreover, in the scientific world it is not even considered due to its absurdity and illogicality. Misconception #3. Damage This hypothesis has no right to exist at all, but it still has a lot of fans who believe that lice are supposedly the result of the influence of negative energy. In other words, a person may get lice due to the evil eye, while they themselves are harbingers of something bad. How not to confuse lice with other dermatological diseases? The symptoms of lice are very similar to the symptoms of some skin diseases. Characteristic symptoms of the disease include: severe itching at the bite sites; skin irritation, scratching; white lumps (nits) near the hair roots; untidiness of hair, less often – inflammation of hair follicles. If no measures are taken, the disease will start and other symptoms will appear, such as: tangles (hair that has stuck together or formed into lumps) on the head; sleep disturbance; boils, dermatitis; irritability; enlarged lymph nodes behind the ears. And if a person exhibits all the symptoms of early infection, then we can say with confidence that he has lice. In this case, treatment should be started immediately. Video - Treatment and prevention of lice Video - All about pediculosis

Psychosomatics of lice

Can lice appear due to nervous conditions? For this reason alone, pediculosis cannot occur.

Among all the assumptions that are associated with the causes of lice from nerves, the following can be identified:

As you can see, these assumptions give a person food for thought and, through inference, come to an affirmative answer to the question: “Can lice appear from nerves?”

However, everything these assumptions have no scientific basis. Stress lice are nothing more than a myth, which, unfortunately, is common among many people, both in the provinces and in large cities.

Moreover, people with different levels of education and intelligence can believe in these myths. Be that as it may, all these assumptions are nothing more than relics.

We hope that you have now figured out the question: “Can lice be caused by nervousness?”, and in order to convince you of the negative answer, we propose to analyze this topic from a scientific point of view.

Scientific explanation

Lice are transmitted from person to person. If a person has not had contact with sick people, used only his own comb and did not sleep on a pillow on which a sick person had previously slept, and also has a personal hat and did not bathe in public places, there is no chance of getting sick.

If you carefully read the versions according to which lice allegedly appear from stress, you will understand how unscientific this is. If you follow basic hygiene rules, infection is unlikely to occur.

If you are experiencing stress that causes your scalp to itch, the best thing to do is change your environment and eliminate the causes of stress. If you can’t cope with stress on your own, you can consult a psychologist.

Sometimes approximately the same effect occurs not from stress, but from suspicious people who are very afraid of becoming infected with lice and constantly suspect that they have the disease. As already mentioned, this is a psychosomatic problem. This is in no way related to actual head lice infestation.

Thus, there is simply no such thing as “nervous lice.” We hasten to assure you that lice do not appear in humans due to nerves!

Who is at risk?

So, let's talk about who can actually get head lice:

Conclusion

A disease such as pediculosis often develops unexpectedly. But they appear precisely upon contact with a sick person and with his pillow, hat, comb, and everything that comes into contact with the head.

We hope we were able to answer the question: “Can lice appear from stress?” and convince you that only through contact with a sick person can you become infected with lice. There are no other ways of infection.