How to find lice on a child? - briefly
Examine the scalp closely, focusing on the nape, behind the ears, and at the hairline, and look for tiny, oval nits firmly attached within a quarter‑inch of the skin. Use a fine‑tooth nit comb on damp hair, pulling each strand taut to reveal any live insects or their eggs.
How to find lice on a child? - in detail
Detecting head‑lice infestation in a child requires systematic visual examination and proper tools.
Begin with a thorough scalp inspection. Use a bright, focused light source and a fine‑tooth lice comb (approximately 0.2 mm spacing). Separate hair in small sections, starting at the nape of the neck and moving forward. Run the comb from the scalp outward, wiping each pass on a white tissue or paper towel to capture any attached material.
Key indicators to identify:
- Live insects: gray‑brown, 2–4 mm long, with six legs. They move quickly and may be seen crawling on hair shafts or the scalp.
- Nits (eggs): oval, 0.8 mm, firmly attached to the hair shaft within ¼ inch of the scalp. They appear as white or yellowish specks and cannot be brushed away easily.
- Viable nits: translucent or pinkish when close to hatching; darkened, empty shells indicate older, non‑viable eggs.
- Secondary signs: persistent itching, especially after a warm shower; small red bumps or sores on the scalp.
Perform the combing process at least twice, allowing a 5‑minute interval between passes. A second examination after 7–10 days catches newly hatched lice that may have been missed initially.
If visual confirmation is uncertain, employ a magnifying lens (10×) to examine suspicious specks. Avoid confusing nits with dandruff or hair‑care product flakes; nits remain attached when the hair is gently pulled, while dandruff flakes fall away.
Document findings: note the number of live lice, viable nits, and their locations (e.g., behind ears, at the hairline). This record guides treatment decisions and helps monitor effectiveness after intervention.
Regular checks—once weekly during an outbreak, or biweekly otherwise—reduce the risk of unnoticed spread. Use the same combing technique each time to ensure consistency.