SEC-S16 / W1 | An Artistic Parasite🪱

The word parasite elicits a creepy feeling. Most people view a parasite as an organism that depends on another organism for survival and is not beneficial in any way to it's host. It gets its food and means of sustenance from it's host causing harm to it.

For the purpose of this contest, I am going to choose a parasite and let you all know why I chose this particular parasite.
The topic of the contest is An Artistic Parasite🪱.

Create a parasite, you can use colored pencils, things you have at home, paint, brushes, or even mobile drawing applications. (show us step by step)

I decided to draw a lice. I used only my plain white cardboard paper and pencil to do the drawing. You can see the materials below

	my materials
	I started with the head
	extended to the neck region
	then to the body
	The sketch the lice.
	the eyes and the body design
	the complete sketch
	the drawing is done
	my selfie

I am not an expert but I am improving in my drawing skill. I have fully represented the lice. This is the type I have seen before.

Tell us what led you to choose that parasite. Outstanding details. (Be as original and creative as possible)

Lice is a type of parasite that exist. It is of particular interest to me because it is a parasite that affects humans.

Its botanical name is Pediculus Humanus capitis. From the name, you can discern that it has something to do with humans. The human body serves as it host.

The particular parts of the body where this parasite can be found are:-

The head

The Eyebrow

Eyelashes

Places or parts of the body that are hairy. It feeds and survives on human blood and stays close to the scalp on the head.

It takes about a week for the eggs laid by the female lice to hatch, producing a nymph in the process. From there they continue to other stages of growth until they reach adulthood.

Lice are very difficult to see and their colour varies from taan to brown. This colour of theirs contribute to their not being seen well. When they suck on the human body, they secrete a chemical that blocks the clotting of the area.

Types of lice

There are 3 common types of lice. They are

° Head lice - this type of usually found on hairs at the back of our neck, scalp and around the ears that are usually the warmest.

° Body Lice :- these ones are somehow different from the head lice. Their eggs are laid on people's clothing and move to the human body only when they want to feed. This type can be a host and also spread some other form of diseases unlike the head lice.

° Public lice:- they are the smallest type of lice. It is usually transmitted from on person to another through sexual intercourse since they live at the genital area of an individual and causes severe itching

Sources of Infection

Poor hygiene is one of the easiest ways to contract this parasite, especially people that live in crowded area. This is especially true with head lice. When a carrier sleeps in the same bed with another person, it is very easy to transfer such to the new person. It could also be when children put their heads together to watch something or they hug.

Another way of contacting it is by sharing combs, hat, caps, hair ties, brushes or other personal items with others

For the body lice, wearing unwashed clothing is a major source of contracting it. Another way is by sharing cloths with another person.

Those who engage in promiscuous sexual activity stands a major chance of contracting this. Children who are victims of sexual abuse can also have it.

° Treatment

You can see why I picked so much interest on this parasite. It is an organism that affects us as individual, loved ones, families, etc.

So much attention and knowledge should be given to it. It can cause diseases within the home and discomfort to those who is infested with it.

To treat and entirely remove lice, a person needs to kill the lice, destroy and remove the eggs and disinfectant to decontaminate any affected area or clothing.

Shampoo could be applied on the hair and left for 2 days before washing it off.

Avoid sharing combs, clothing with people you do not know the level of their personal hygiene.

Any clothes that have been exposed to lice should be thoroughly washed and cleaned using hot water.

Conclusion

There is no benefit coming from lice to it's host. That is why it is referred to as a parasite. So care must be taken to ensure that it does not enter our homes, since it multiplies very fast. We should ensure that we keep cloths clean, take good care of the hairy parts of our body and regularly wash our hairs and body.

I will like @drhira @josepha @patjewell @moyeon and @irawandedy to take part. here