If you have just been notified by your child’s school administration that there is an outbreak of head lice, it is highly likely that you will be concerned whenever your child scratches his or her head. However, you shouldn’t panic as many health experts have confirmed that lice are virtually harmless—they don’t carry diseases and they are never a sign of poor housekeeping. However, to avoid overreaction or resorting to wrong diagnosis, it is important to be aware of the common symptoms of head lice. Here are a few signs to look out for:
1. Your child is constantly scratching his or her head
An itchy scalp is an obvious symptom of head lice. The itching sensation is often a result of allergic reaction of the body to the louse saliva, and it is common on the head and around the ears and neck. Your child may report or complain of moving sensation in their hair, which is often a result of the parasite crawling through their hair.
2. Constant Dandruff
Nits or lice eggs often resembles dandruff and vice versa, so before you diagnose your child, consult a doctor or a local head lice services before opting for any kind of treatment. Generally, nits are often white or yellow in color and tend to latch on the hair shafts about one-quarter inch from the scalp. So how do you differentiate them from dandruff, dirt, or hair product residues? Well, they don’t budge and they are not easily removed from hair.
3. Presence Red Bumps on your child neckline
Another common sign of head lice is irritation around the neck, ears, scalp, shoulders and ears. Presence of red bumps in these areas is an indication of scratching, which sometimes lead to infections.
4. Watch for Physical Evidence
Another obvious and simple way of knowing whether your kids have head lice is manually look for the lice or their eggs. However, you should note that lice are very tiny and the nits are even tinier, so spotting their presence physically is not always easy. To help you out, pick up slice comb with very fine teeth and wet the child’s hair. Slide the comb from your child’s scalp to end, slowly checking its teeth after every swipe. You may need a magnifying glass to be sure that your child’s hair is clear.
5. Swollen lymph nodes
Sometimes, broken skin from frequent scratching my result into infections. In such cases, you might notice lymph nodes (located behind the ears and the neck) become swollen and tender. Swollen lymph nodes are serious symptoms, which you shouldn’t be taken lightly. Accordingly, call a doctor immediately on this one as the child might need a round of antibiotics.
Bottom-line
Once you notice that your child has head lice, strive to contact local head lice services or contact a physician to give you medications and other possible eradication instructions. Head lice specialists or medical experts also have Wood’s light, which can make the nits more visible, making it simpler to know whether or not your child have lice.
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