Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Does Your Child Have An Itchy Scalp

By Jennifer King

Do you think your child has head lice? Have you noticed him scratching his head frequently? Or maybe you've heard of an outbreak of head louse at his school? You can probably discover if your son or daughter has head louse by doing an easy evaluation at home.

The easiest way to identify head lice is by noticing their eggs in the hair. Lice eggs are also known as nits. Head lice will lay these eggs on the hair shaft close to the scalp. This is why a head examination depends on scrutinizing the scalp. Before the baby louse hatches, nits look yellow, tan, brown or clear. Once the louse has hatched, the shell will stay gluedStuck to the hair shaft. This is the easiest thing to identify, as it is white in color, looking somewhat like dandruff. The main difference between nits and dandruff is dandruff is easily shaken off of the hair shaft, while nits are stuck to the shaft.

Sometimes you will be able to notice adult head louse on your child's hair, particularly if your child's hair is short. These little beasties are small, the same size as a sesame seed from your hamburger bun, and they tend to possess the same coloring as your child's hair. A lot of parents grasp their little ones are infected the moment they see the adult lice moving through their kid's hair.

Head scratching is, without a doubt, another sign of a head lice infestation. But, not all children find head lice to be irritating. Also, scratching their scalp might be an indication of other problems, such as dandruff or eczema. The itching from nits is generally likened to a tickle, or the feeling of something crawling on the scalp.

Children who suffer from sensitive skin, and spend a lot of time scratching because of the head lice will often develop a rash on their scalp. Head lice rash will appear as red lumps at the base of the scalp. It might sometimes turn into a more extreme infection that requires antibiotics.

If you suspect your child could be suffering from head lice, part his hair and observe the base of the hair shaft for the nits. Pay particular concern to the areas of scalp around the ears and neck. If you have trouble focusing up close, you may want to use a magnifying glass. Make sure you do the lice checking in bright light. If you can't see anything, but the itching does not go away, it is time for a trip to the doctor. On the other hand, if there is continual scratching, and you've heard of an outbreak at school or day care, you possibly can be sure that the cause is head lice.

To cure nits you can buy a medicated shampoo that will eliminate the lice. Be sure to follow the instructions to the letter, for the reason that, incorrect use will not eliminate all of the lice. You will also be required to comb through your child's hair with a nit comb to take care of any nits that are not killed by the shampoo.

Once you have treated your child, wash any clothes that are lying around, as lice have the ability to live up to three days out of your child's hair if they are on clothing. Also, boil any objects that come in contact with your child's head, including combs, brushes and bows. It is particularly important to wash any bedding. Vacuum all floors and furniture. Then watch carefully for signs of re-infestation. If it happens, start the process again. It can be hard work, but it's possible to get rid of head lice with the correct steps. - 14130

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