Common signs and symptoms of lice

Lice are a bigger problem than many suspect, with over 20 million cases occurring in the United States every year. The symptoms of head lice can appear in different orders, and different ways, so it’s important that you know the best ways to identify a case. Elementary and Middle schools are two of the biggest hotspots for head lice, so if you have a family member that is still in school, it is important that they know how to recognize head lice before it can spread to others.

Symptoms and signs of head lice

Most people know that getting head lice leads to a seriously itchy scalp, but what most people don’t know is that the itching can take up to two weeks to start, and some people never experience itching at all. Two weeks is plenty of time for head lice to spread from one head to another, so it is important to be able to recognize the other signs of lice before they have the chance to spread. Here are some signs and symptoms to keep an eye out for that could help you prevent an outbreak of head lice.

A peppery pillow

Lice are tiny, only about 1-3 millimeters long, and appear off-white or yellow, so it’s easy to see how they are often mistaken for the flakes of dry skin, dandruff. If you’ve been waking up to a peppery pillow recently, then you may want to check that it is dandruff and not lice. Dandruff is easily removed from the scalp, but lice cling on tightly.

Rash and bumps

The itching that comes from head lice is extremely intense, but it’s important not to scratch. Itching too much can cause a bacterial infection from the saliva of the head lice, resulting in bumps and rash around the nape of the neck, the crown of the head, and behind the ears. If the infection worsens, it can lead to an intense fever and swollen lymph nodes, curable only with a course of antibiotics.

Tickling

Before the itching starts, it is still possible to feel the lice crawling around in your hair. It might not feel like much, but the moving sensation reduces the amount of restful sleep you are able to get and can make it harder to focus.

Lice treatment near me in Omaha, NE

If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important that you act before the lice have a chance to spread. Lice Clinics of America is a lice treatment organization and we are dedicated to a chemical-free lice treatment that guarantees a lice-free scalp. If you or someone you know has lice and is seeking treatment, then visit our lice clinic in Omaha and set up an appointment today.