Discovering and diagnosing head lice in your child requires that you know what you're looking for. It is possible that your child has been exposed to lice at school, church, or day care and you have been instructed to monitor your child for any signs of active infestation. Lice are insects, a single insect is called a louse.

Symptoms of head lice:

Itching and scratching of the scalp is the most common sign. The scratching may become so severe that the scalp may bleed or develop scabs and sores. Children can develop scalp infections if they continue to scratch the open sores. Some children may also seem distracted, restless, and inattentive at school.

What does a louse look like:
The louse is a 6 legged insect, approximately 1 to 4 millimeters in length. It does not have wings, therefore is not able to fly from one person to another as some people think. It has a translucent grayish body that may look red if it is engorged with blood. You may not ever see the actual live insect on the scalp. It is most commonly the eggs (nits) that are discovered at the base of the hair shaft, close to the scalp. The female louse usually lives 1 to 3 months and can lay up to 300 nits in her lifetime. Despite the fact that lice require blood as their food source, they have not been shown to carry or transmit disease.

Why do they live on the head?
Head lice enter the hair follicles where they gorge on blood, and as they emerge from the follicle, lay their eggs. These sticky, oval, grayish-white egg capsules are found most commonly on the back of the head, especially in the hair behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. Each egg will hatch in about 6 to 10 days, so an untreated lice infestation can become quite uncomfortable in a short period of time.

How and where should I start looking for lice or nits?

Starting by the ears, inspect the hair shafts close to the scalp. Part the hair in 1/2 inch sections and work backwards toward the back of the head. Pay attention to the area behind the ears and at the nape of the neck, these are common areas of infestation. It may be helpful to wet the hair a bit, and have a fine toothed comb for separating hair sections.

I think I see nits, now what?

You must get a lice treatment kit. Some can be found over the counter at the drug store or supermarket. Two common brands are NIX and RID. There is a prescription strength medication available for severe or repeated infestations. Follow the

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