Head Lice - Is Your Child Putting Up With Them

Do you notice him scratching his head often? Or have you heard of an outbreak of head lice at your child’s school? You can probably find out if your son or daughter has head lice by doing some simple examination in doors.

The simplest way to notice head lice is by identifying their eggs in the hair. Lice eggs are also known as nits. These eggs get laid by the lice on the hair shaft right on the scalp. This is why a head examination depends on scrutinizing the scalp. Before the baby lice hatch, nits look yellow, tan, brown or clear. Once the louse has hatched, the shell will stay glued to the hair shaft. This is the easiest thing to see, as it is white in color, looking somewhat like dandruff. The main difference between dandruff and nits is dandruff will easily shake off of the hair shaft, while lice eggs are glued to the shaft.

Sometimes you will be able to notice adult head lice in the hair, particularly if the hair is short. These little beasties are tiny, no bigger than a sesame seed that you get on your hamburger bun, and they tend to have the exact coloring as your child’s hair. A lot of parents realize their little ones are infected when they see the adult lice clambering through their children's hair.

Scratching the head is, of course, an additional sign of a bad case of head lice. But, not all children find head lice to be itchy. Also, scratching the scalp can be a sign of other troubles, such as eczema or dandruff. The itching from lice is commonly described as a tickle, or the feeling of something moving about on the scalp.

Children who have sensitive scalps, and spend a lot of time scratching because of the head lice will regularly get a rash on the scalp. Head lice rash will appear as red lumps on the base of the scalp. It can infrequently turn into a more serious infection that needs antibiotics.

If you suspect your child may have head lice, part your child’s hair and look at the bottom of the hair strands for the nits. Pay particular attention to the areas of hair around the neck and ears. If you find it a struggle to focus up close, you might want to use a magnifying glass. Make sure you do the lice checking in sufficient light. If you can‘t see anything, but the itching does not go away, it is time for a trip to the doctor. If, however, there is persistent scratching, and you have heard of an outbreak at school or day care, you probably can be sure that the cause is head lice.

To cure head lice you can buy a chemical based shampoo that will kill the lice. Make sure you follow the application guide to the letter, for the reason that, improper use will not eliminate all of the lice. You will also be required to comb through the hair using a nit comb to remove any nits that are not killed by the shampoo.

When you have cured your child, wash any clothes in the house, as lice can live up to 72 hours off of the scalp if they are on clothing. It’s also a good idea to boil any objects that come in contact with an infected head, including bows, combs and brushes. It is particularly imperative to wash any bedding. Vacuum all furniture and floors. Then look out for signs of any re-occurrence. If this happens, begin the procedure again. It can be difficult, but you can wipe out head lice with the correct steps.