Lice is a very common problem among children in elementary school. If you are a parent who has never seen this condition before, you might not know what exactly you should be looking for. Many parents expect to see bugs jumping around, but there are generally other signs that you will need to watch out for. Here are some tips on how to spot head lice.

Symptoms
Children who catch lice may complain a lot about their scalp. The reason is because your child will generally complain a lot about their head itching. This may lead you to believe that they could have a skin condition, such as eczema. Although this is always a possibility, you should know that lice are often the cause among children. If your child is constantly complaining about scalp itchiness or if you seem them scratching their scalp, it may be a good idea to look for lice and their nits.
Lice
Many people assume that lice are big like spiders or cockroaches. In reality, lice are very small and usually incredibly difficult to see. While their structure is a lot like that of a crab, lice are typically so small that you would need a microscope to see them. At their largest, lice will reach about a half an inch. This is about the size of a rice grain. The color of lice tends to vary, but is usually brown or gray. It is important to keep in mind that you will probably be able to find the lice both in your child’s scalp or in their bedding.
Nits
Lice eggs, which are referred to as nits, are another one of the main signs of the presence of these bugs. Nits are oval shaped, but they are usually too small for you to actually be able to see the shape. The color of nits usually ranges from white to brown. Many seem to find that nits have a close resemblance to dandruff. It is important to know that the lice’s nits are going to usually be very close to the scalp, so you should not actually be looking in the hair for these bugs. Know that until the nits are completely gone from the scalp, the lice will return at any time. A nit comb is known to be one of the best ways to get rid of nits.
Lice is a very common children’s health problem. Before you can actually have the problem diagnosed, you are going to need to notice signs of lice yourself. There are many different home remedies which are said to get rid of lice and their nits. If you suspect that your child could have lice, the best thing that you can possibly do is visit a doctor and have the problem diagnosed. A doctor will be able to ensure that your own personal diagnosis is correct, and may also be able to offer you a decent amount of advice on how to get rid of the lice and their nits.




Wow, don’t get me started with lice. Our family just went through a lice ordeal recently, and they are getting super hard to kill these days. It seems none of the shampoos we tried would work anymore. They are getting super immune to things now.
I agree that lice is common in kids mostly, and that is because they spread at school. They are in such SUPER CLOSE proximity to each other, and they tend to SHARE everything…that is why it is so bad.
Thanks for the article!
Scott
Comment by headlice treatment — October 12, 2009 @ 12:28 pm