To know if you have lice, look for these signs and symptoms:
- Nits (lice eggs): Tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots attached to hair shafts close to the scalp, especially around the ears and nape of the neck. Nits look like dandruff but cannot be easily brushed or shaken off.
- Adult lice and nymphs: Small crawling insects about the size of a sesame seed, grayish-white or tan in color, moving quickly on the scalp or hair.
- Itching and scratching of the scalp, caused by an allergic reaction to lice saliva. It may take weeks for itching to start.
- Small red bumps or sores from scratching, sometimes leading to infections or swollen lymph nodes near the neck.
- A tickling or moving sensation on the scalp or in the hair.
To check for lice, part the hair and look closely for lice or nits near the scalp, behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck, using bright light and possibly a magnifying glass. Wetting the hair and using a fine-tooth comb with conditioner can help catch lice and nits on the comb, which you can wipe onto a tissue to see more clearly. If unsure, a healthcare professional can help confirm the presence of lice. The presence of live lice is the definitive way to confirm an infestation.
