Head Lice – Does Your Child Have Them
Do you notice your child itching his scalp often? Or maybe you’ve heard of an outbreak of head lice at his school? It’s possible to discover if your child has head lice by carrying out an easy evaluation at home.
The easiest way to identify head lice is through identifying their eggs in the hair. Louse eggs are also known as nits. These eggs get laid by the lice 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 clear, tan, yellow or brown. Once the nit has hatched, the shell will stay stuck to the hair shaft. This is the easiest thing to identify, as it is whitish, looking somewhat like dandruff. The main discrepancies between dandruff and nits is dandruff will easily shake off of the hair shaft, while lice eggs are fused to the shaft.
Sometimes you will be able to see adult head lice in the hair, particularly if the hair is short. These little beasties are small, no bigger than a sesame seed from your hamburger bun, and they are inclined to have the exact coloring as your child’s hair. Some people grasp their kids are infected the moment they see the adult lice moving through their children’s hair.
Head scratching is, of course, an additional sign of a bad case of head lice. In saying that, not every child will find head lice to be irritating. Also, itching the scalp might be a sign of other problems, like dandruff or eczema. The itching from lice is generally described as a tickle, or the feeling of something crawling on the scalp.
Children who suffer from sensitive skin, and spend a lot of time itching due to the nits will regularly get a rash on the scalp. This rash looks like red bumps on the base of the hair shaft. It might infrequently turn into a more serious infection that needs antibiotics.
If you have a suspision your child could have head lice, part his hair and check the base of the hair shaft for the nits. Pay particular attention to the areas of scalp around the neck and ears. If you find it a struggle to focus up close, you might want to use a magnifying glass. Be sure to do this examination in bright light. If you find nothing, but the scratching continues, you might want to pay a visit to your doctor. If, however, there is persistent itching, and you’ve heard of an outbreak at day care or school, you possibly can be sure that the cause is head lice.
To treat nits you can purchase a medicated shampoo that will kill the lice. Be sure to follow the instructions to the letter, for the reason that, incorrect use won’ wipe out all of the lice. You will also be required to comb through the hair using a fine tooth comb to remove any nits that are not killed by the shampoo.
Once you have cured 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 on clothing. Also, boil any objects that come in contact with an infected head, including bows, combs and brushes. It is particularly crucial to wash any bedding. Thoroughly clean all floors and furniture. Then look out for signs of any re-occurrence. If it occurs, begin the procedure again. It can be hard work, but it’s possible to get rid of head lice with the correct steps.
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