Head lice can live on the head for up to three to four weeks and are spread very easily from person to person by direct contact. Regardless of anecdotal theory a lice infestation can occur in spite of pristine personal hygiene. Poor personal hygiene is not the reason for head lice.

The itching associated with head lice is a result of the body’s allergic reaction to the bite of the head lice. Itching may be felt throughout the head or along the neck. Redness or a rash may also be seen along the back of the neck or behind the ears. It is important to have someone to closely inspect the hair in order to confirm the presence of nits. It is easier to locate the nits along the hair shafts since the live adult head lice will move around quickly and are difficult to actually see. Be certain to check along the hairline, the back of the neck, and close to the scalp for the presence of nits.

The best treatment of head lice is prevention. It is important to avoid direct contact with another person who has head lice since direct contact is the mode of transmission. Treatment involves the use of a product that kills the lice. It is important to use a product that is toxic to lice but safe for humans. It is equally important to follow the manufacturer’s directions closely for the most effective treatment.

If you do contract a case of head lice, it is important to treat not only the hair but all the personal hair accessories, such as brushes, combs, etc, as well as the bed linens, clothing, jackets towels, pillows, etc. Treatment must also involve the surfaces where the head lice might have landed since head lice can live for up to two days on inanimate objects such as sofas, chairs, carpets and even stuffed animals. If a person comes in contact with the object where the lice are living then the lice can easily and quickly move from the inanimate object to the person’s hair setting up the perfect scenario for the breeding of more lice.

A bout of head lice is an itchy and bothersome condition to say the least…but the good news is that head lice are easily treatable. If you need more information on hair lice, stick around!

After every two weeks, they lay white eggs or nits on the scalp. These nits are in the form of tiny white dots. Human contact is one of the major causes for the spreading of head lice. Head lice are considered a problem as the presence of these parasites signifies unhygienic conditions.

If you share comb, hairbrushes, clothes, hats and helmets with a person having head lice then it may also lead to them. Existence of head lice will make you uncomfortable and leads to itching. School-going children need to taken care a lot from these head lice. If you find your child itching his/her head constantly then you need not panic. Here are some significant steps to follow:

* If your child is itching the scalp check the collar or pillow of your child for any black spots. These insects are minute, but visible to the naked eye.
* Look around the ears, back of the neck or under the fringe. These are the major hiding places of head lice.
* Look out for some anti-lice lotion or shampoo for the treatment of head lice.
* You must check all the family members, for it spreads from person to person.
* Usage of thin combs can also do wonders in making your child’s head free from head lice.
* Never opt for any chemical agent unless approved by the doctor.

If you notice any of these things in your kids, get those headlice taken care of immediately so they don’t spread. Head lice cures are simple if you get to them ASAP.

Lice Do Not Spread Disease, but They Are Contagious!

Lice aren’t dangerous and don’t pass blood born disease disease, but they are contagious and can just be downright annoying. Their bites may cause your child’s scalp to become irritated, and persistent scratching may lead to skin problems and even infection.

Recognizing Head Lice

Though very small, lice can be seen by the Human eye.

Lice eggs (called nits). These look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown sacks before they hatch. Lice lay nits on hair shafts near the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits appear a lot like dandruff, only they can’t be removed by brushing or shaking them off. Unless the infestation is heavy, it’s more common to see nits in a child’s hair than it is to see live lice crawling on the scalp. The eggs hatch in about 2 weeks after being ‘nitted.’

Adult and Hatched Lice

Adult lice and nymphs (baby lice). The adult louse is very tiny and is brown-tan in color. Nymphs become fully grown in about a week after hatching. Most lice feed on blood about every 4 to 6 hours, but they can survive up to 3 days off the scalp.

Hair Lice and Scratching

With lice bites come itching and scratching. However, the itching may not always start right away – that depends on how sensitive your child’s skin is to the lice. It can sometimes take weeks for kids with lice to notice the discomfort, meaning the infestation will become more severe. They may complain, though, of things moving around on or tickling their heads as they can feel the lice wriggling near the scalp.

Red Bumps and Scalp Sores from Head Lice

For most children, the irritation is mild; but for others, a more bothersome rash with crusting and oozing may develop. It’s also not unusual for kids to develop some swelling of their lymph glands as a reaction to the bites. Excessive scratching can also lead to a bacterial infection (the skin would become red and tender around the bite area). If your doctor thinks this is the case, he or she may treat the infection with a topical or an oral antibiotic.

Searching For HeadLice

You may be able to see the lice or nits by parting your child’s hair into small sections and checking for lice and nits on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the back of the neck near the hairline). A magnifying glass and bright light may help. But it can be tough to find a nymph or adult louse – often, there aren’t many of them and they’re able to scramble quickly running from the light. It is much easier to find the newly laid eggs attached to the hair shafts.

Are Hair Lice Contagious?

Yes, hair lice are highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person, especially in group settings (this pretty much means anywhere kids are together such as school, daycare or sports team that share equipment)

Though they can’t fly or jump, these tiny parasites have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair. They spread mainly through head-to-head contact, but sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats can also help pass them along.

Can Pets Pass Head Lice

Nope, pets like dogs and cats are NOT prone or susceptible to lice or passing it along. They gotta live with the fleas, but not the lice!

Your doctor can recommend a medicated shampoo, cream, or lotion to kill the lice. These may be over-the-counter or prescription medications, depending on what treatments have already been tried. It isn’t uncommon for treatments to be unsuccessful because of incorrect use or because the lice may be resistant to the chemical in the shampoo.

It’s important to follow the directions completely because these products are insecticides. Applying them too much or too frequently can increase the risk to you or your child. Following the directions on the product label is also important to ensure that the treatment works properly. Your doctor may also suggest a special rinse to use on your child’s hair that makes it easier to comb out the nits using a fine-tooth comb. There are specially designed fine toothed combs that will remove lice eggs from the hair.
A good hair cut is also a good idea after an infestation.

Medicated lice treatments can usually kill the lice and nits, but it may take a few days for the itching to stop. Your doctor may recommend repeating treatment in 7 to 10 days to make sure all the nits have been killed and avoid risk of reinfestation.

What About Lice In The House?

Headlice don’t live very long once they fall off the scalp of the host. So it’s unnecessary to spend a great deal of time and money trying to rid the house of lice.

Following are a few tips for eradicating lice in your house after an outbreak on you or your child’s head.

* Wash all bed linens and clothing that’s been recently worn by anyone in your home who’s infested in very hot water (130° Fahrenheit, 54.4° Celsius), then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.
* Dry clean any clothing that isn’t machine washable.
* Have bed linens, clothing, and stuffed animals and plush toys that can’t be washed dry-cleaned. Or, put them in airtight bags for 2 weeks.
* Vacuum carpe

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