How do lice look on a child's head? - briefly
Lice are tiny, tan‑brown insects about 2–3 mm long that move rapidly along hair shafts. Their eggs, known as nits, are small, white‑to‑yellow oval shells glued tightly to the hair near the scalp.
How do lice look on a child's head? - in detail
Adult head‑lice are tiny insects measuring 2–3 mm in length. Their bodies are flattened, oval, and lack wings. Color varies from gray‑white to light brown; when a light source shines through, the exoskeleton appears slightly translucent. Six legs end in claw‑like hooks that grip each hair shaft, allowing the parasite to move quickly across the scalp.
Nymphs, the immature stages, are smaller (1 mm or less) and resemble adults but are paler and less pigmented. They feed on blood and become mobile within a few days after hatching.
Eggs, commonly called nits, are oval, about 0.8 mm long, and firmly cemented to the side of a hair strand, usually within ¼ inch of the scalp where temperature supports development. Nits are smooth, glossy, and range in color from white to yellow‑brown. Because they are attached with a strong protein seal, they do not detach easily during combing.
Typical visual clues on a child's head include:
- Small, moving specks that may be seen crawling near the hairline, behind the ears, or at the nape of the neck.
- Clusters of shiny, oval eggs adhered close to the scalp; the eggs’ shells are often mistaken for dandruff but do not flake off.
- Presence of brown or reddish spots on the child's clothing or pillowcases, indicating blood from feeding.
- Irritation or itching caused by repeated bites, which may lead to small red papules.
When examining the scalp, use a fine‑toothed comb on wet hair. Separate strands over a white surface; adult lice appear as dark, elongated bodies, while nits appear as stationary, translucent ovals attached at an angle to the hair shaft. Removing both stages requires meticulous combing and repeated checks over several days to catch newly hatched nymphs.