How do lice look on children's heads? - briefly
Lice are minute, wingless insects roughly the size of a pinhead, with a tan‑gray coloration and rapid movement through the hair. Their eggs, called nits, appear as tiny white oval shells firmly attached near the scalp.
How do lice look on children's heads? - in detail
Lice observed on a child’s scalp are small, wingless insects measuring 2–4 mm in length. Their bodies are flattened and oval, allowing them to move easily through hair shafts. The coloration ranges from gray‑white to light brown, often appearing translucent when the insects are unfed and becoming darker after blood meals.
Key visual cues include:
- Nits (eggs): Oval, about 0.8 mm long, firmly attached to the base of each hair strand near the scalp. They are usually white or yellowish and remain immobile. A nits cluster may create a “cigar‑box” pattern when several are aligned along a single hair.
- Adult insects: Mobile, with six legs ending in sharp claws that grip hair. Their heads are smaller than the thorax, and the abdomen may show a slightly swollen appearance after feeding.
- Movement: Adults move rapidly across the scalp, often seen crawling close to the scalp surface. They may be spotted by the “jumping” motion when disturbed.
- Scalp condition: Infestation can cause small red puncture marks, localized itching, and occasional superficial skin irritation. The scalp may appear slightly reddened but typically lacks overt lesions.
When examining a child’s head, focus on the hairline, behind the ears, and the nape of the neck, as these regions provide the warm, protected environment lice prefer. Use a fine‑toothed comb on wet, conditioned hair to separate strands and reveal both live insects and attached eggs. A careful visual inspection under adequate lighting can distinguish lice from dandruff or debris, as dandruff flakes are loose and easily brushed away, while nits remain clamped to the hair shaft.