Outside, in the office or anywhere else, you will often see people scratching their heads again and again. There can be many reasons for this, but one of the most common reasons is the presence of lice. Most people think, “No problem, just wash your hair and everything will be fine,” and they ignore it completely. But do you know how dangerous this carelessness can be in the long run? This problem can be so serious that it can even be fatal. A very worrying case has come to light from Puri district of Odisha, where a 12-year-old girl, who was suffering from severe head lice infestation for a long time, died during treatment. This incident took place in Champagada Sahi area of Balanga Police Station area, raising serious questions about the health of children in rural areas and their timely treatment. Let us tell the whole incident.
What is the matter?
According to reports, the deceased girl has been identified as Lakshmipriya Sahu, who was a class six student at a local school. According to family members, he was suffering from severe head lice problem for several months. Initially it was ignored as a common problem, but with time the infection worsened. It is reported that the girl’s mother advised her to shave her head to avoid infection, but the girl refused. Meanwhile, the lice infestation spread all over his head. Due to the foul smell and increasing discomfort associated with the infection, the girl started experiencing mental stress and almost stopped going out. Her hair was always tied, preventing other family members from knowing the severity of the infection.
The condition worsened due to vomiting of blood.
The condition worsened when the girl suddenly started vomiting blood three days ago. His family members immediately took him to Puri Medical College and Hospital, where his treatment began. However, despite all efforts, he died on Saturday night.
What do experts say?
Most experts and health researchers say that lice infestation is not fatal. However, according to a research study published in the scientific health website ScienceDirect, head lice are external parasites that feed on human blood. This problem is most common in young children, their caregivers, and people living in the same household. Lice are generally not considered a serious health threat and do not directly spread disease. That is why people often ignore them considering them to be minor problems. However, in case of prolonged and severe infection, they can have serious consequences.
Concern increased over the death of a 12 year old girl
The study said that on August 26, 2020, the death of a 12-year-old girl living in a rural area of Georgia, USA, shocked the medical community. According to reports, the main cause of the girl’s death was said to be cardiac arrest, while tests revealed that she had severe iron deficiency anemia. This condition was caused by severe head lice infestation over a long period of time. Medical reports revealed that the girl had an unusually high number of lice on her head. The constant sucking of blood led to anemia, which eventually proved fatal. In this case, the girl’s parents were also accused of negligence and ill-treatment of children.
Direct relation between lice and anemia
Studies show that lice are blood-sucking parasites. One study found that a large female louse sucks about 0.00015 ml of blood at a time. If thousands of lice are feeding on a child’s head several times a day, daily and monthly blood loss can reach clinically dangerous levels, especially in children who are already weak or malnourished. Therefore, it should never be taken lightly.