Head Lice Information

It is such a shock to most of us when a family member discovers that they have head lice. It is at that point that we realize that we need Head Lice Information and we need it fast. In our minds it is usually other people who have

had it or someone who looks unclean but, we never thought it would happen to our children.  Unfortunately, it does happen to many people. This article is about head lice information and getting rid of head lice. If you have discovered it on your own or have had the painful experience of the school nurse breaking the bad news to you, how do you handle it?

Most people at some time in their lives have had lice.  Perhaps you will recall what your mom did when you were little or you received advice from friends suggesting a head lice home remedies such as an olive oil head lice treatment or a mayonnaise treatment.  But, the best way to treat lice and treat it quickly is to get the facts and do it right and to understand what you are dealing with.

What are head lice?

First, head lice are not dangerous and they do not spread disease.  They are a small wingless parasitic insect that live among human hair and feed on small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp.  They are very common especially for children between the ages of 3 and 12 but bothersome do to the itching their bites cause.  While boys can get lice, girls get it more often.

What are the Symptoms of Head Lice?

There a several signs of lice that you should always look out for when your kids are coming into contact with other kids such as a school setting.  One of the most obvious signs is scratching of the scalp.  Lice and nits are very hard to see and can easily be overlooked during everyday grooming rituals.  However, you might notice your child start scratching their head on a regular basis.  The itching might not start right away but, it depends on how sensitive your child’s skin is to the lice.  It can sometimes take weeks for the itching to begin.

Lice Eggs and
What’s the difference Between Dandruff and Lice Eggs?

Keep your eyes out for nits which are lice eggs.  They are small, yellow, tan or brown before they hatch.  After they have hatched the shells may be white or appear clear.  Nits can be seen with the naked eye on the shafts of the hair close but not always to the skin’s surface.  An easy way to tell the difference between nits and dandruff is to check to see if they will easily brush off the hair.  Dandruff will brush of but nits will not.  They can also be felt between the fingers

unlike dandruff.  It is more common to see nits on the child’s hair then it is to see live insects crawling around the scalp unless the infestation is extremely heavy.  Nits will hatch in one to two weeks after they are laid.

Adult lice or nymphs, are no bigger then the size of a sesame seed.  They are typically tan in color.  Nymphs become adults in only one to two weeks after they hatch.  All lice need a constant heat and food supply that is found through the scalp but, they can survive up to two days if removed from the scalp. Once you have determined that your child has head lice it is time to treat it.

The best way to do this is to research your many options.  You might want to call your doctor and see what they suggest.  But, be careful of just trying things through word of mouth.  Sometimes those around you might not be giving you the best advice.

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