Head Lice Information
Hi there,
Head Lice is a
parasite that has been an unpleasant problem throughout
mankind’s history. Head lice are very small, wingless
insects that are found in the hair of an infected human.
These tiny bugs feed off of small amounts of blood from the
scalp.
Problems with head lice are
very common; anyone can catch lice, no matter their personal
hygiene behavior. Head lice is more problematic in children
from the ages of 3 through 12, this is especially true for
girls.
Though the idea of tiny
insects living in the hair may be down right unappealing,
head lice are not dangerous, though the condition is
extremely contagious. When head lice bite the scalp, it can
cause irritation as well as inflammation. The danger comes
about when a person who is infected, persistently scratches
the scalp. This can lead to lacerations of the scalp and
infection.
The main symptom of head lice is itching of the scalp,
leading to constant scratching. To determine if someone has
head lice it is necessary to closely examine the scalp and
hair. Lice are visible to the naked eye, but they may be
hard to spot, especially if the infestation is not in
advanced stages.
Aside from the tiny lice,
another sign that you can look for are lice eggs, also
called nits. Head lice eggs or nits appear as tiny, yellow
or tan dots before hatching. They are usually attached to
the shaft of the hair, close to the scalp. After the head
lice have hatched, the egg will appear to be white or clear.
Head lice eggs (nits) appear to resemble dandruff, but
unlike dandruff, you cannot remove them by brushing or
shaking the hair. Once head lice eggs have been laid in the
hair, they will hatch within 1 to 2 weeks.
Keep in mind that when you
are checking someone’s head for lice, you will be far more
likely to detect the nits, rather than the lice, unless the
infestation is extremely bad. So while looking for live
insects is important, so is taking note of anything that
resembles head lice eggs.
Adult head lice will resemble a tiny seed, and they will be
brown or tan in color. It only takes about a week for baby
lice to become the size of an adult. These insects will feed
off of the scalp approximately every 4 to 6 hours.
To prevent an extreme infestation, and to keep from
spreading head lice to others, it is important that the
condition be detected and treated as early as possible.
If you're interested in
more articles about head lice, click here -
Articles.
Enjoy!
I wish you all the best on your
head lice adventure!
Best wishes,
Thomas T :)
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