Head Lice
Head lice are annoying, irritating and bothersome insects that live among human hairs. This kind of hair and scalp disease could also be embarrassing. Head lice feed themselves from the small quantity of blood drawn from the scalp. The head louse is small, wingless bloodsucking creature and a common problem for children aging from 3 to l2 years. Usually girls are more affected with head lice than boys. Although lice are not perilous and don’t spread disease, they could be transmitted from one person to another.
This hair and scalp disease may cause severe itching because of the lice bites. These insects are very small but it can be seen by our naked eye. Usually lice eggs or nits look like tiny yellow, brown or tan dots before they are hatched. Lice lay eggs on hair shafts near the scalp’s surface where they get warmth until they are hatch. Nits cannot be removed through brushing and they are hatched within l to 2 weeks after they are laid. When nits are already hatched, you will see very tiny baby lice crawling on the child’s scalp.
An adult louse is less than the size of a sesame seed with grayish-white or tan colour. Nymphs or baby lice are smaller and within 1 to 2 weeks after they are hatched they become adult. Lice feed on blood several times a day though they can survive up to 2 days without sucking blood. Lice bites are very itchy and persistent scratching can lead to a bacterial infection wherein the scalp would become red and tender. It may also lead to have oozing and scabbing along with the inflamed lymph glands. If infection occurs, an oral antibiotic can be prescribed.