Head Lice
Summary: We usually notice the presence of head lice when dandruff-like flakes begin appearing at the base of the neck and behind the ears of children.
Head lice, also called Pediculosis, are tiny wingless insects that live on human heads and feed on their blood. The adult louse, about the size of a sesame seed, can be found on the scalp and, on rare occasions, on eyebrows or eyelashes. They are especially noticable at the neckline and behind the ears.
The eggs of the Head louse, called nits, may appear to look like dandruff flakes, but they don’t shake off like dandruff and they are not removed by brushing. The tiny yellow, tan, or brown nit is attached to the hair shaft very close to the surface of the skin where scalp temperatures help in the incubation. It is the presence of nits that usually alerts us to the fact that lice are present.
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Lice feed every four to six hours, but can go without a blood meal for up to three days. Louse bites can cause itchy and inflamed scalps leading to infection. Symptoms include a tickling sensation on the head, frequent itching and scores resulting from scratching.