Do you suspect your child has head lice? Have you noticed your child scratching his head often? Or have you heard of an outbreak of head louse at his school? It's possible to find out if your son or daughter has head louse by implementing some simple evaluation at home.



The simplest way to identify head lice is through identifying their eggs in the hair. Lice eggs are called nits. Head lice will lay these eggs on the hair shaft close to the scalp. This is why a head examination requires looking at the scalp. Before the baby lice hatch, nits look tan, brown, or yellow. Once the nit has hatched, the shell will stay attached to the hair shaft. This is the easiest thing to see, as it is whitish, looking somewhat like dandruff. The main difference between head lice eggs and dandruff is dandruff will easily shake off of the hair shaft, while lice eggs are fused to the shaft.

Sometimes you will be able to notice adult head louse on your child's hair, particularly if your child's hair is short. These little beasties are small, the same size as a sesame seed from your hamburger bun, and they tend to possess the same coloring as your child's hair. A lot of parents grasp their little ones are infected the moment they see the adult lice moving through their kid's hair.

Head scratching is, without a doubt, another sign of a head lice infestation. In saying that, not all children find head lice to be itchy. Also, scratching the scalp could be an indication of other problems, such as dandruff or eczema. The itching from nits is commonly described as a tickle, or the sensation of something moving about on the scalp.

Children who suffer from sensitive skin, and spend a lot of time scratching because of the head lice will often develop a rash on their scalp. Head lice rash will appear as red lumps at the base of the scalp. It might sometimes turn into a more extreme infection that requires antibiotics.

If you suspect your child may have head lice, part his hair and check the base of the hair strands for the nits. Pay particular concern to the areas of hair around the neck and ears. If you have trouble focusing up close, you may want to use a magnifying glass. Be sure to do the lice checking in bright light. If you find nothing, but the itching continues, it is time for a trip to the doctor. On the other hand, if there is persistent scratching, and you've heard of an outbreak at school or day care, you probably can be sure that the reason is head lice.

To cure nits you can buy a medicated shampoo that will eliminate the lice. Be sure to follow the instructions to the letter, for the reason that, incorrect use will not eliminate all of the lice. You will also be required to comb through your child's hair with a nit comb to take care of any nits that are not killed by the shampoo.

When you have treated your child, wash any clothes in the house, as lice have the ability to live up to three days off of the scalp if they are attached to clothing. Also, boil anything that comes in contact with an infected head, including brushes, bows and combs. It is especially important to wash any bedding. Vacuum all furniture and floors. Then look out for signs of re-infestation. If this happens, start the procedure again. It can be difficult, but you can get rid of head lice with the proper steps.