There are instances where a lice infestation can be felt and others where it cannot. In cases where the lice can be felt, one feels them crawling on their heads. It is important to note that the feeling of a louse crawling on one’s head triggers a sensation of something tickling the head, thus discomfort.
Signs of lice infestation
It is not easy to know that one has lice, especially when they have not dealt with lice before. This is because lice can be mistaken for dandruff. Since it is not easy to determine whether one has lice, it is important to focus on the signs and symptoms involved. First, lice infection is associated with intense itching, especially behind the ears and on the hairline. This itching is brought about by the louse’s saliva on the scalp, as most people tend to be allergic to it. It is important to pay attention to this symptom since one does not develop the feeling instantly after getting lice. Instead, it may take several days before the itching develops.
Another sign that one has lice is white spots on the hair. These spots are nits or lice eggs produced by lice. However, one can easily mistake nits for dandruff since they look similar. One way to distinguish between the two is by trying to remove them. Dandruff easily moves compared to nits which are difficult to remove. The nits firmly attach to the hair follicles and thus cannot be removed easily.
Third, a lice infestation brings about a tickling sensation on the scalp as they crawl. Unfortunately, some people may not feel the tickling sensation, so it may be difficult to notice until the infestation is severe.
Moreover, lice infestations bring about red spots on one’s scalp. When the lice bite they leave behind their saliva, which triggers an allergic response resulting in red spots on the scalp. Just like all the above cases, it may be difficult to spot the red bumps since they develop under one’s hair. Nevertheless, lice infestation brings about tremendous difficulties, especially when sleeping, due to lice being more active at night.
Do not wait until an itchy sensation develops
It is important to note that one should not wait until they develop an itchy sensation on their head. Lice mostly operate well in dark places, and thus when there is light, they will quickly crawl to the darker parts of one’s hair. It is important to check the entire scalp, behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck since these are major areas where lice concentrate.
How fast do lice develop on one’s head?
One adult louse can lay approximately ten eggs or nits a day. The nits take approximately a week to hatch. The infant lice then take approximately 9 to 12 days to mature. Thus, when one spots lice on their heads, then they have been infected for a while, possibly two to three weeks.
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