What is a Head Louse?

If you have a child who is 3-12 years old, you should be particularly interested in knowing what a head louse is. A head louse is one of the worst pests that a parent has to deal with.

What They Are

A head louse is scientifically called Pediculus humanus capitis which is why having head lice is also called having a case of pediculosis. A head louse does not have wings and usually lives on the hair of humans. They thrive on the human scalp because that is where they feed on blood. Not all people get lice but most kids at the age bracket of 3-12 years old get lice infestations. A head louse is not dangerous and normally is not a disease carrying vehicle. Lice however are very stubborn and difficult to get rid of.

How They Develop

A head louse starts off as a brown or yellow oval nit or egg that is sometimes mistaken for dirt or dandruff. Nits will hatch after a week or two after being laid and will leave a clear shell behind. The baby head louse that comes out of a nit is called a nymph that will usually mature into an adult head louse one week after hatching. An adult louse is light brown or gray in color and usually does not grow bigger than a sesame seed. They feed on blood every 4-6 hours but can survive away from the scalp for 2-3 days. On the scalp, it has a life span of about a month or more. Although they do die on their own, the real problem is that new lice will always hatch to replace old ones if hair and scalp are not treated.

Spreading Lice

Contrary to what some people believe, your child cannot get head lice through flying lice. A typical head louse does not have wings and does not even jump. Most kids get lice from friends and classmates through direct head or hair contact or through the use of materials or equipment with lice. Kids therefore may infect each other by sitting or standing very close together in school or sports activities. They can also get infested with lice by using combs, brushes or hats of other kids with lice. Bedding, pillows and clothing with lice may also be a way of spreading the pests. Once a child gets lice, they cling stubbornly to the hair with their legs or claws.

Signs and Symptoms

Lice are not easy to spot because the adults move fast and may hide within hair strands. Nits are also quite small and may be hidden close to the scalp. One sign to watch out would be scratching. Your child might also complain of an itchy feeling accompanied by a tingling sensation on the scalp that may mean that lice are moving. In some children with sensitive scalps, scratching of lice bites may result in swollen and red sores. If you look a little closer you may just see abandoned nit shells that will tell you that lice are breeding and hatching on your child’s hair.

Complications

Having lice rarely leads to complications and are never deadly. Some kids however may scratch too much. This might lead to scalp infections and should be brought to the doctor’s attention immediately.