How can one see if there are lice? - briefly
Examine the scalp and hair closely for live insects about the size of a sesame seed and for tiny white nits attached to hair shafts near the skin. Use a fine-toothed comb on wet, conditioned hair to reveal any moving lice or firmly attached nits.
How can one see if there are lice? - in detail
To determine whether a person is infested with head lice, conduct a systematic visual and tactile examination. Begin by preparing a well‑lit area; natural daylight or a bright lamp reduces shadows that can conceal insects. Use a fine‑tooth comb (approximately 0.2 mm spacing) on dry hair, moving from the scalp outward in short sections. After each pass, wipe the comb on a white tissue or rinse it in water to reveal any captured organisms.
Key indicators to observe:
- Live insects: small, wingless, gray‑brown bodies about 2–3 mm long. Adults move quickly and may drop when disturbed.
- Nits (eggs): oval, translucent or white, firmly attached to the hair shaft within ¼ inch of the scalp. Unlike dandruff, nits cannot be brushed away and have a pointed end attached to the filament.
- Viable nits: slightly larger, darker at one end, indicating embryonic development. Empty shells (nits that have hatched) appear more translucent and brittle.
- Scalp irritation: persistent itching, redness, or small sores caused by bite marks.
A step‑by‑step protocol enhances reliability:
- Separate sections of hair with clips or pins.
- Wet the hair with a small amount of conditioner; this immobilizes lice and eases combing.
- Run the fine‑tooth comb through each section from root to tip, pausing every few centimeters to examine the comb teeth.
- Transfer any captured material to a white surface for inspection under magnification (hand lens or 10× magnifier recommended).
- Record the number of live lice and viable nits; detection of even a single live louse confirms infestation.
- Repeat the process on the nape, behind the ears, and along the hairline, as these regions are preferred habitats.
Additional techniques:
- Use a handheld magnifying glass (10–20×) to scan the scalp directly, focusing on areas where hair is dense.
- Perform “wet combing” twice a week for two weeks; this method reduces false negatives caused by lice hiding in dry hair.
- In cases of severe infestation, consider a professional scalp examination or laboratory confirmation of collected specimens.
By adhering to these precise steps, one can accurately assess the presence of head lice without reliance on subjective symptoms alone.