Introduction

Description Head lice are parasites that usually infest the scalps of school age children, although adults also get them. Lice attach their eggs to hair shafts near the scalp and lay five to six eggs a day. Lice never willingly leave the head; they stay close to the scalp for food, shelter, warmth, and moisture. They are most often found behind the ears and at the back of the neck. Hatched eggshells (nits) may be confused with dandruff. The mature louse is the size of a sesame seed and has six legs and hook-like claws that grasp the strand of hair tightly, making it difficult to dislodge. It feeds on the host's blood every three to six hours, which can cause scalp itching, though most cases are asymptomatic. The diagnosis of lice infestation can be made definitively only if living lice are present.

DR JEREMY BURGESS/SPL

Treatment