Symptoms of Head Lice

One of the first symptoms of having head lice is itching. Kids, in particular, will itch their heads and scalp without realizing something's wrong because, to them, it simply tickles. Most lice infestations occur in kids, ages 4-11 years old. Itching occurs because the lice are bloodsuckers, and they feast on small amounts of blood for their daily nourishment and life support. The bloodsucking feels like a tiny prick or itch.

Their favorite place to feed is behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck, just above the shoulder line. For this reason, you may also see a rash in these areas. If untreated, an infection can occur because the areas are itched, the skin is broken and infection flares up. In some rare cases, the neck glands may also swell. Although rare, head lice can also show up in beards and bushy eyebrows, but always on humans. They don't particularly like to burrow in other hairy domestic animals around the house such as dogs or cats.

Other indications that should be considered are looking to the hair for what looks like big dandruff, but are really egg, or "nit" infestation. These eggs look like flakes throughout your hair. The best way to identify eggs is by taking a magnifying glass to see what the dandruff looks like close up. Sometimes bedroom pillows or sofa pillows have infestations which actually look like dirt or lint.

Don't be fooled because your hair is always clean. Head lice love clean, dry hair because they can settle nicely and attach their sticky eggs to hair strands that are clean of debris. Clean hair follicles make for great lice homesteading. If in doubt about head lice, call a professional to determine whether one is infested.