Understanding Head Lice

Nearly every parent encounters head lice in their child at one time or another. The main symptom is an itchy scalp. This is caused the saliva the louse leaves behind where he’s drawn blood. Sometimes these spots can get infected and cause a crusty, red appearance as well as swollen lymph glands. But the first clue is when you see your child constantly scratching behind the ears or at the neckline.

Head lice are about the size of a sesame seed and scurry around the head. They crawl. They do not hop, jump, or fly. Because they move so fast, it can be hard to spot them without a strong light or magnifying glass. Live lice are usually gray or reddish brown.

Another sign of infestation are nits (lice eggs) attached to a strand of hair close to the head. The nits will be close to the scalp because they need heat to hatch and they need to feed as soon as they hatch. Nits are small, oval shaped, and are attached by a glue-like substance.

Treatment for head lice generally involves using a shampoo with pesticides, natural home cures, or nit removal with a special comb. If you decide to use a pesticide shampoo, carefully read all the label directions and precautions. If you choose natural or alternative methods such as Vaseline, mayonnaise, tea tree oil, or olive oil, remember they are untested and unproved methods.

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