What are head lice and what do they look like?

Head lice are blood-sucking insects that infest the human scalp. Image source: Kidshealth

Head lice are parasitic insects that live on the human scalp, laying eggs that cling to hair and feed on blood. Lice and their eggs are often difficult to spot, as their color closely resembles human skin or hair. They are small, about the size of a sesame seed, and reproduce quickly.

A single louse can lay 6-10 eggs daily, and these eggs hatch in just 7-10 days. Head lice eggs are oval-shaped, slightly yellowish, and small, like pinheads, clinging tightly to hair shafts. After hatching, the nymphs mature into adult lice within a week. Female lice can begin laying eggs about two weeks after hatching and can lay 200-300 eggs after mating.

Head lice spread quickly and easily, transmitting from one person to another either directly or indirectly.

• Direct transmission: Head-to-head contact provides an opportunity for lice to crawl from one person to another. Since lice cannot fly, only crawl, this is fortunate.
• Indirect transmission: Sharing infested items such as hats, combs, clothing, pillows, or bedding.

Recognizing Signs of Head Lice

Preschool and elementary school-aged children are particularly susceptible to head lice. Statistics indicate that 6-12 million children in the U.S. contract head lice annually. In Australia, one in four schoolchildren is affected. Girls tend to be more affected due to longer hair and greater head-to-head contact than boys.

Before noticeable symptoms appear, detecting head lice is challenging. Their color often blends with the person’s hair and scalp.

Infestation with head lice typically presents the following symptoms:

• A feeling of something crawling on the head.
• Red bumps on the scalp, behind the ears, neck, or shoulders.
• Intense itching, leading to frequent scratching. Excessive scratching can cause skin damage, inflammation, or infection.

If left untreated, head lice can lead to various complications such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, hair loss, etc.

Finding the “Culprit”

If your child experiences persistent itching and head scratching, check for head lice.

Thoroughly wet your child’s hair before searching. This will make it harder for lice to move, making detection easier. Place your child under bright light, part the hair in sections, and carefully examine the scalp and hair for lice or nits.

Alternatively, using a traditional method, you can use a nit comb or a fine-toothed comb, slowly combing from root to tip to remove lice and nits. This method helps to remove a significant number of lice from the child’s head and speeds up treatment.

Traditional nit comb.

Home Treatments for Head Lice

Once head lice are confirmed, treatment focuses on eliminating both lice and nits. Parents can use chemical or manual methods.

• Chemical methods are easy and quick. You can use specialized shampoos or creams designed to treat head lice. Depending on whether you need to kill only lice or both lice and nits, choose an appropriate product. Always read instructions carefully to avoid harming your child’s scalp.
• Manual methods involve removing lice and nits after combing with a nit comb.

Using a nit comb to remove lice and nits. Image source: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

For faster and more effective results, combine both methods.

Household members are often affected. Regularly check everyone in the family. Treat everyone who has lice to prevent further spread. Items like bedding, pillows, clothing, hats, and combs are potential sources of infestation. Soak personal items in hot water or wash frequently to eliminate lice and nits.

Head lice are a common problem that can be frustrating for parents. Untreated, head lice can increase the risk of skin infection and eczema, and negatively impact a child’s quality of life. AVAKids hopes the treatments discussed in this article will be helpful for parents and their children.