How can you see lice on a child's head? - briefly
Inspect the scalp by parting the hair and running a fine‑toothed nit comb through wet strands, looking for live insects about the size of a sesame seed and for oval, yellowish nits attached within a few millimeters of the scalp.
How can you see lice on a child's head? - in detail
Detecting head‑lice infestations requires systematic visual inspection under optimal lighting and with appropriate tools. Follow these steps:
- Choose a well‑lit area or use a portable lamp that produces bright, white light. Natural daylight near a window works best; artificial light should be flicker‑free.
- Wet the hair with a mild conditioner or water. Damp strands flatten the cuticle, making lice and their eggs more visible.
- Part the hair into sections no wider than 1 cm. Use a fine‑tooth louse comb to separate each section, moving the comb from the scalp outward.
- Examine the comb teeth after each pass on a white surface. Live lice appear as brownish, oval bodies about the size of a sesame seed. Nits (lice eggs) look like tiny, translucent or yellowish ovals firmly attached to the hair shaft, typically within ¼ inch of the scalp.
- Employ a hand‑held magnifying glass (10× magnification) for close‑up inspection of any suspicious spots. This helps differentiate lice from dandruff or hair debris.
- Focus on common attachment zones: the nape of the neck, behind the ears, the crown, and the hairline. Repeat the process on both sides of the head.
- Record findings immediately. If live insects are seen, note their location; if only nits are present, assess whether they are firmly attached (indicating recent infestation) or loosely attached (likely old).
Additional tips:
- Perform the inspection on a clean scalp; avoid using styling products that can obscure visibility.
- Conduct the check in a calm environment to reduce the child’s anxiety, which can improve cooperation.
- Repeat the examination after 7–10 days, as newly hatched lice may become visible after the initial screening.
By adhering to this methodical approach, lice can be reliably identified on a child's scalp.