How can you determine if lice are in a person's head? - briefly
Inspect the scalp and hair closely, looking for tiny, grayish insects that move and for oval, white‑ish eggs (nits) attached firmly to the hair shaft near the scalp. Use a fine‑tooth comb to separate strands; any live lice will be visible on the comb and nits will remain stuck to the pulled hair.
How can you determine if lice are in a person's head? - in detail
Detecting a lice infestation on a scalp requires visual inspection, tactile assessment, and, when necessary, laboratory confirmation.
First, examine the hair and scalp under bright, natural light or a magnifying lamp. Separate strands from the crown to the nape, pulling each section away from the skin. Look for live insects, which are tan to gray, about the size of a sesame seed, and move quickly when disturbed. Also search for nits—tiny, oval, white or yellowish eggs firmly attached to the hair shaft within a quarter‑inch of the scalp. Nits that are firmly cemented cannot be easily brushed off; a gentle tug on the hair should cause the egg to remain attached.
Second, perform a tactile check. Run fingertips through the hair, feeling for crawling insects or the gritty texture of nits. A fine-toothed comb, specifically designed for lice removal, enhances both visual and tactile detection. Comb the hair in sections, wiping the comb on a white surface after each pass to reveal any captured lice or eggs.
Third, confirm suspicion with a microscopic or laboratory examination if the visual evidence is ambiguous. Collect a few hair samples containing suspected nits and send them to a medical laboratory for identification. Microscopic analysis distinguishes nits from dandruff or hair casts by revealing the characteristic operculum and embryonic development within the egg.
A systematic approach can be summarized as follows:
- Lighting and magnification: Use a well‑lit area or a handheld magnifier.
- Sectioning: Divide hair into small sections; inspect each from scalp outward.
- Visual cues: Identify live lice (mobile, darker) and nits (immobile, attached close to scalp).
- Combing: Employ a fine‑toothed lice comb; repeat combing multiple times.
- Tactile sensation: Feel for movement or the texture of eggs.
- Laboratory verification: Submit hair samples for microscopic confirmation when needed.
Following these steps yields a reliable determination of whether a person’s head is infested with lice.