Lice also take life! Death of 12 year old girl in Odisha raises big questions, these dangers increase

Odisha This incident, which came to light from Puri district, is as unusual as it sounds, but it is equally scary. A problem which is usually dismissed as minor, became the cause of death of a 12 year old girl.

This case is of Champagada Sahi village of Balanga police station area. Lakshmi Priya Sahu, a sixth class student living here, died due to serious problem of head lice and the infection spread by it. Lakshmi was the daughter of Lingaraj Sahu and according to the family, she was suffering from head lice for several months.

Did the girl die suddenly?

Initially the family members considered it a normal problem. Lakshmi’s mother also advised her to shave her head several times, so that she could get rid of lice. But the girl refused this. The situation worsened so much that due to infection, a strong smell started coming from his head. Because of this shyness and discomfort, he had almost stopped going out of the house.

Three days ago Lakshmi’s health suddenly worsened. He started vomiting continuously and also started vomiting blood. Panicked family members immediately took him to Puri District Headquarters Hospital. Doctors started treatment, but by then the infection had spread widely in the body. Despite all efforts, Lakshmi died during treatment.

How does head lice cause death?

Lice are generally considered a minor and irritating problem, but in very rare cases it can prove fatal. According to experts and reports, lice do not directly cause death, but in case of prolonged absence of treatment and gross negligence, cases of death have been reported due to complications related to it. In all such cases, serious medical or social negligence has been a major reason.

Causes of Lice Related Deaths?

According to the National Institute of Health report, the biggest reason has been severe iron deficiency anemia. When the number of lice in the head becomes very high, i.e. in thousands, then a small amount of blood keeps coming out every day. If this happens for a long time, there can be severe blood deficiency in the body, which becomes life threatening.

According to a report by Science Direct, in the year 2020, a 12-year-old girl died of cardiac arrest in Georgia, USA. Investigation revealed that she was suffering from severe lice problem for many years and due to this she had severe anemia. The NIH report states that in the year 2025, the death of a 56-year-old man was also reported in the European Union, where secondary anemia caused by thousands of lice was said to be the cause of death.

Death also occurs due to infection and sepsis

Scratching the head for a long time causes wounds on the scalp. If there is bacterial infection in these wounds and timely treatment is not received, then the infection can spread throughout the body, which is called sepsis. This situation is very dangerous.

risk of hypothermia

In case of severe anemia, the ability to control body temperature also becomes weak. In weak and unprotected people, this condition can cause hypothermia, which can lead to death.

Which people are at greater risk?

Negligence has been the biggest reason. Most deaths have been reported in cases of child neglect or vulnerable adults living in poor hygiene. People with pre-existing iron deficiency or poor diet are at greater risk. Such serious consequences occur only when the lice problem persists for months or years without treatment and the infection increases significantly.

How do lice spread?

Lice spread most when two people’s heads touch each other. This is the most common pattern used by children while playing, sitting in school or among family members. Along with this, by using the comb, brush, towel, pillow, scarf, bedsheet, pillow, cap or helmet of an infected person, lice can reach the head of another person.

Do lice jump or fly?

No. Lice neither fly nor jump. It just crawls and goes from one head to another.

Does dirt cause lice?

This is a common misconception. Lice can be found even in clean hair. It does not depend on cleanliness, but on contact.

What is the treatment for lice?

Experts say that the problem of lice should not be taken lightly. Such rare but dangerous conditions can be completely avoided with timely treatment, cleanliness and proper care. There are many medical oils in the market with which these can be dealt with. Combing daily, along with shaving the hair completely, is also a solution. If the problem becomes more serious, doctor’s advice is necessary.