Pediculosis affects over 50% of children in Spain

According to the IX CinfaSalud study, pediculosis affects 50.7% of children aged 3 to 12 in Spain. The research highlights a significant psychological impact, with 24.7% of parents stating that lice affect their children emotionally and 43.5% reporting a direct psychological impact on themselves due to social stigma.

Medical experts, including Dr. Julio Maset from Cinfa, warn that the social stigma and the false myth linking lice to poor hygiene often prevent parents from notifying schools. This lack of communication increases the risk of contagion among other students. Schools emphasize that notifications are handled anonymously to encourage early reporting.

Experts also caution against ineffective or dangerous home remedies. Common substances such as mayonnaise, olive oil, butter, or Vaseline are ineffective, while using alcohol or kerosene is considered highly dangerous and irritating to a child's scalp. Additionally, it is noted that lice do not jump or fly, but rather crawl, and do not require hair cutting for treatment.