delousing
Getting nits out
Delousing is the process of removing lice from a person, animal, or object.
The term appears in contexts ranging from veterinary care to historical accounts of refugee processing and prison intake, where mass delousing was routine: New arrivals were subjected to delousing before entering the camp.
The word carries grim historical associations with concentration camps, where "delousing" was sometimes used as a euphemism for gas chambers.
Bloodsucking scalp insects
- nitsLice before hatching
- eggsReproductive cells in shells
- scalpSkin covering skull
- infestationPest takeover situation
itching · head-scratching · crawling · pediculosis · nymphs · hatching · lifecycle · transmission
Louse-transmitted bacterial infection
- DDTBanned chlorinated insecticide
- militaryArmed forces collectively
- trenchesElongated ground excavations
- warArmed struggle between groups
prison · barracks · epidemic · immigration
Eliminating pathogens from surfaces
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- sanitizationCleaning to remove pathogens
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- fumigationDisinfection via airborne chemicals
laundering · bedding · combs · brushes · clothing · vacuum · bagging · dry-cleaning
Synthetic bug-killing compound
- pyrethrinPlant-based insect toxin
- ivermectinAntiparasitic medication for worms
- conditionerHair-smoothing product
- dimethiconeSilicone oil for skincare
lindane · retreatment · application · inspection · nit-picking
lice
Bloodsucking scalp insects
infestation · itching · head-scratching · crawling · pediculosis · nymphs · hatching · lifecycle · transmission · outbreak
typhus
Louse-transmitted bacterial infection
- DDTBanned chlorinated insecticide
- militaryArmed forces collectively
- trenchesElongated ground excavations
war · prison · barracks · epidemic · immigration
disinfection
Eliminating pathogens from surfaces
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- sanitizationCleaning to remove pathogens
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
fumigation · laundering · bedding · combs · brushes · clothing · vacuum · bagging · dry-cleaning · towels
permethrin
Synthetic bug-killing compound
- pyrethrinPlant-based insect toxin
- ivermectinAntiparasitic medication for worms
- conditionerHair-smoothing product
dimethicone · lindane · retreatment · application · inspection · nit-picking
repellent
Causes strong aversion
- screeningEvaluative selection process
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- educationSystematic development of mind
awareness · notification · exclusion · prophylaxis · surveillance
- Decontaminationdisinfection, sanitization, sterilization, fumigation, bleaching
- licehead lice, body lice, crab lice, nit, nits
- cleaning servicesjanitors, custodians, office cleaning, window washing, floor care
- typhustyphus, camp fever
delousinglice infestation
Parasitic scalp colonization
infestation · pediculosis · parasitic infection · lousiness · infesting
lousy, louse, lousiness, lousily, delouse, deloused, delouses