Your child could get head lice if he scratches his head a lot, especially behind his ears and around the neck. However, it is not because he is scratching his head that his hair is infested with lice. Even if he scratches his head a lot, you must examine your child’s hair and find live insects to determine that he has lice. Likewise, finding eggs (nits) in her hair does not mean your child has live lice.
Sensitivity To Lice
Some children are more susceptible to lice than others, some may experience severe itching, and some may not. Itching can take four to six weeks to appear during a first infestation (usually with less than 10 live lice).
When To Consult?
Lice treated by LiceDoctors for instance and nits do not transmit any disease to humans. However, your child can irritate the skin of his scalp by scratching and cause sores that may become infected.
Consult the doctor for Lice Treatment phoenix for example if:
- Your child’s scalp has sores that look infected.
- Consult a health professional (school nurse, pharmacist, or doctor) if:
- your child’s head seems infested with lice, and you need to choose a recommended treatment;
- the treatment applied against the lice does not seem to be effective;
- the applied treatment causes intense itching.
How To Examine Your Child’s Hair?
To examine your child’s head, you need a comb with very fine teeth separated by less than 0.3 mm (fine comb). This type of comb is sold in pharmacies. Some manufacturers of lice products provide them in the package, but their quality is not always optimal. For best results, run the fine comb strand by strand through the child’s wet hair from the scalp to the ends of the hair.
It is recommended to place a light above the child’s head to see a louse’s presence better. You can also use a magnifying glass.
Treat only people who have live lice or nits.
How Often Do You Do This Exam?
Examine your child’s hair every day:
- if he has suspicious itching on the scalp
- if you know that there are lice around him
Examine your child’s hair once a week, especially in the fall, winter, and after vacation:
- even if it is not itchy
- if he attends daycare or elementary school
Nits dead or alive?
Live nits
Dead nits– Greyish-white eggs that look like swollen dandruff.
– Are most often found within 6 mm of the scalp.
– White and dried out.
– Are more than 6 mm from the scalp.
