The most common symptom of lice is itching. As with mosquitoes, itching is the body’s reaction to the insect’s bite. A large number of lice can cause irritability. The word “lousy” has multiple meanings. One being “infested with lice” another being “miserable”. The caregiver should check for lice if the child is scratching often, especially at the nape of the neck and behind the ears. Examine the child’s scalp and hair in a well-lit area. A magnifying glass is helpful. Because lice are so hard to see, it may be easier to look for their nits. Diagnosis of head lice can be tricky because there are many things that may look like nits (or a louse) that are actually something else, such as dried hair gel, dandruff, dust particles or an aphid (a small insect) that the wind blew into the child’s hair.
Louse infestations occur frequently among family members and close friends. So if a child is diagnosed with a louse infestation, it’s a good idea to also check family members for head lice and nits and treat appropriately.
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