“mummy, What Do Head Lice Look Like?”

It’s a very simple question, but it can often leave parents completely confounded. If your child has asked ‘What do head lice look like?’ then its time you started finding out the real facts about these human parasites.

What DO they look like?

• An adult head louse is around the size of a sesame seed (approximately 3mm in length)
• The body is long, slim and flat. Six legs protrude from the body. On the end of each leg is a claw, which allows the louse to grip onto hair stands and travel around the scalp.
• A louse is wingless insect and lacks the leg power of fleas. As such, it cannot fly or jump from host to host.
• The color of a louse will vary, from tan to a dark brown.

You can search the internet for images of these parasitic insects. If you’re wondering ‘what do head lice look like’, then you’re most probably concerned that you have an infestation to deal with. Purchase a head lice comb from a pharmacy, and comb the hair thoroughly. Unfortunately, if you do have an infestation, then you’ll soon see what one of these parasites look like, as the comb will extract both the adult insects and the younger nymphs with ease. You can drag their eggs out as well with these combs.

As well as asking what the insects look like, it’s important to also know the other signs of an infestation, namely the presence of eggs. The eggs of the parasites that they lay in your hair are called nits.

What do nits look like?

• Live nits with unborn insects will be dark in color, and very difficult to spot. Often, they are felt, rather than seen. Pinch hair strands lightly between two fingers. If you feel any unusual lumps or foreign bodies on the hair strands, then you have nits.
• Hatched nits will be much lighter in color, and a little easier to remove from the hair strands. They may sometimes be confused with dandruff. Remember that dandruff is easily shaken off of the hair while these eggs are not.

It’s important that you can identify both the live insect and the nits. If you can only identify the insects, you will only treat the insects, and that’s how an infestation can reoccur in the same house over and over again. You need to make sure that no insects or eggs survive your treatments to ensure that no further problems will occur from these parasites. As well as looking for the insects and nits, you can also look for the marks of their activity on the scalp. If your child is constantly scratching their head, look at the scalp for any bite marks in the form of small red spots.

As well as educating yourself about the parasites, you also need to ensure that your whole family understands how they are transmitted and how they survive, as well as answering their original question of what the insects look like. Keeping your kids informed will help prevent further outbreaks or infestations in your home.

If you overhear a parent conversation, and a parent asks about the general appearance or mentions any problem with the parasitic insects then don’t be afraid to jump in and take the opportunity to inform other parents. If you confirm that your child does have an infestation, you must tell other parents, and inform the school that they attend. If everyone knows about the problem, then everyone can make the appropriate proactive efforts to treat the problem.

By: Nancy B Williams

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Nancy Williams is here to help other parents with head lice problems and questions. For more information about What Do Head Lice Look Like, Visit Head Lice Information.