Have you noticed your child scratching his or her scalp frequently? Or maybe you've heard of an infestation of head lice at their school? You can probably discover if your son or daughter has head lice by implementing some simple evaluation at home.
The easiest way to notice head lice is by spotting their eggs in your child's hair. Lice eggs are also known as nits. Head lice will lay these eggs on your child's hair shaft close to the scalp. This is why a head check requires looking at your child's scalp. Before the baby lice hatch, nits look clear, tan, yellow or brown. Once the louse has hatched, the part that is left will remain glued to your child's hair shaft. This is the easiest thing to see, as it is whitish, and it looks like dandruff. The main difference between dandruff and head lice eggs is dandruff is easily shaken from the hair shaft, while lice eggs are fused to the shaft.
Sometimes you will be able to identify adult head lice on the hair, especially if your child's hair is short. These critters are tiny, the same size as a sesame seed that you get on your hamburger bun, and they tend to possess the exact coloring as your child's hair. A lot of parents understand that their little ones are infected when they see the adult lice climbing through their children's hair.
Head scratching is, of course, an additional sign of a head lice infestation. In saying that, not all children find head lice to be irritating. Also, scratching their scalp might be an indication of other troubles, such as eczema or dandruff. The itching from nits is usually likened to a tickle, or the sensation of something crawling on the scalp.
Children who have sensitive scalps, and spend a lot of time scratching due to the head lice will regularly develop a rash on their scalp. Head lice rash will appear as red bumps on the base of the scalp. It might sometimes turn into a more serious infection that needs antibiotics.
If you think your child may be suffering from head lice, part their hair and observe the bottom of the hair strands for the nits. Pay close attention to the areas of scalp around the ears and neck. If you find it a struggle to focus up close, you might want to try a magnifying glass. Make sure you do the lice checking in bright light.
If you find nothing, but the scratching does not go away, it is time for a trip to the doctor. On the other hand, if there is persistent scratching, and you've heard of an infestation at school or day care, you probably can be sure that the cause is head lice.
To cure head lice you can buy a medicated shampoo that can kill the lice. Make sure you follow the application guide to the letter, because improper use will not kill all of the lice. You will also need to comb through your child's hair with a fine tooth comb to remove any nits that are not eliminated by the shampoo.
When you have treated your child, wash any clothes that are lying around, as lice can live up to 72 hours off of your child's scalp if they are attached to clothing. Also, boil any objects that come in contact with an infected head, including bows, combs and brushes. It is especially imperative to wash any bedding. Vacuum all furniture and floors. Then watch carefully for signs of any re-occurrence. If it occurs, begin the procedure again. It can be hard work, but it's possible to wipe out head lice with the correct steps. |
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