Monday, November 10, 2008

Does Your Child Have Headlice

By Jennifer King

Do you think your child has head lice? Have you noticed him scratching his head frequently? Or maybe you've heard of an outbreak of head louse at his school? You can probably discover if your son or daughter has head louse by doing an easy evaluation at home.

The easiest way to identify head lice is by noticing their eggs in the hair. Lice eggs are also known as nits. Head lice will lay these eggs on the hair shaft close to the scalp. This is why a head examination depends on scrutinizing the scalp. Before the baby louse hatches, nits look yellow, tan, brown or clear. Once the louse has hatched, the shell will stay gluedStuck to the hair shaft. This is the easiest thing to identify, as it is white in color, looking somewhat like dandruff. The main difference between nits and dandruff is dandruff is easily shaken off of the hair shaft, while nits are stuck to the shaft.

Sometimes you will be able to notice adult head louse in your child's hair, particularly if the hair is short. These little beasties are small, the same size as a sesame seed that you get on a hamburger bun, and they tend to have the exact coloring as your child's hair. A lot of people understand that their kids are infected the moment they see the adult lice clambering through their child's hair.

Head scratching is, without a doubt, another sign of a head lice infestation. In saying that, not all children find head lice to be itchy. Also, scratching the scalp could be an indication of other problems, such as dandruff or eczema. The itching from nits is commonly described as a tickle, or the sensation of something moving about on the scalp.

Children who suffer from sensitive skin, and spend a lot of time scratching due to the head lice will regularly get a rash on the scalp. Head lice rash looks like red lumps at the base of the scalp. It could infrequently develop into a more serious infection that needs antibiotics.

If you suspect your child could be suffering from head lice, part his hair and observe the base of the hair shaft for the nits. Pay particular concern to the areas of scalp around the ears and neck. If you have trouble focusing up close, you may want to use a magnifying glass. Make sure you do the lice checking in bright light. If you can't see anything, but the itching does not go away, it is time for a trip to the doctor. On the other hand, if there is continual scratching, and you've heard of an outbreak at school or day care, you possibly can be sure that the cause is head lice.

To cure nits you can buy a medicated shampoo that will eliminate the lice. Be sure to follow the instructions to the letter, for the reason that, incorrect use will not eliminate all of the lice. You will also be required to comb through your child's hair with a nit comb to take care of any nits that are not killed by the shampoo.

When you have cured your child, wash any clothes that are lying around, as lice have the ability to live up to three days out of the hair if they are attached to clothing. Also, boil anything that comes in contact with an infected head, including combs, brushes and bows. It is particularly crucial to wash any bedding. Vacuum all furniture and floors. Then watch carefully for signs of any re-occurrence. If it occurs, start the process again. It can be hard work, but you can get rid of head lice with the proper steps.

About the Author:

No comments: