Kids that Scratch Their Heads and Body Don't Always Have Head or Body Lice

Previously Published on Examiner.Com

Do you suspect head or body lice when your child repeatedly scratches his head or other part of his/her body? Do you jump up to check his head for head lice? Head lice are very common among smaller children. Children often get head lice from contact with children who have head lice, especially in the Southern states.

However, all children who scratch their heads and other parts of their body don't have head or body lice. Sometimes the severe itching stems from a staph infection to the skin and its underlying structures, such as the hair follicles. Staph infections can present in many forms. For instance, hair follicles in the scalp and anywhere on the body can become infected with staph organisms.

The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia states that viruses and bacteria can live up to 20 minutes on surfaces such as door knobs, cafeteria tables and other surfaces.

If your child is complaining of itching, take a good look at his head and other areas of his/her body. Look at his hands, arms, belly, back and legs. If you see little red bumps where the hair is growing on the body, chances are your child may have a bacterial infection of the hair follicles, which is also known as folliculitis. Folliculitis can present in a small bumpy rash, or it can become much more severe to infect the deeper tissues around the hair follicles.

Folliculitis often clears up on its own without any medical intervention; however, sometimes the condition continues to get worse and the itching becomes unbearable. The itching may also be combined with pain, because the same nerves that carry pain impulses also carry the itch impulses. If the itching does not clear up on its own, your child should be seen by his/her health care practitioner.

It is vitally important that your children know how to wash their hands appropriately. For directions on how to wash your hands properly, click here. It is also important that children do not share towels after baths and showers, because bacteria can transfer from the towels onto them.

Source: http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/staphylococcus.html#