Itching and Scratching? It Could Be Head Lice

Every parent knows that when they see their child scratching their head, it could mean head lice. Head lice are tiny bugs that live on the scalp and lay eggs on the hair shafts. It's not a very nice thought, to have bugs crawling around your, or your child's head, but it happens quite frequently once children head off the day care or school. The lice are usually hard to see and can be a grayish brown color and they don't infect other animals like cats and dogs, but their eggs can dislodge from the scalp and fall onto bedding, clothing and carpet. Head lice live off human blood and as they feed and move around, they cause the scalp to itch. While the lice won't cause any diseases, they are an annoying and inconvenient pest and can drive parents crazy.

Head lice infestations occur frequently in children because they often share hair brushes or hats, which then transfers the lice and their nits, the young lice, from head to head. To prevent, or at least lessen the chances of your child becoming infected with lice, check their hair every few days or at least once a week. It's important to explain to young children that they shouldn't share clothing, especially hats, or use each other's hair brushes. For day cares, there should be separate lockers or cubbies for each child to keep possibly infected objects away from other clothing. There was an old rumor around that said head lice meant a person was dirty, but we now know that this isn't true. In fact, head lice prefer clean hair.