Lice ID

Is it Lice?

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Do you see fast-moving insects the size of sesame seeds and/or tiny seed-shaped objects attached near the base of the hair shaft?

ADULT LICE

Adult lice are usually light brown in color and look like sesame seeds. They often move quickly and can be found on the scalp or hair. Lice are most often found on the back of the neck and behind the ears.

NITS

Eggs (nits) are yellow, brown or tan. They look like tiny seeds and are firmly attached to the hair shaft, very close to the scalp. They do not move. Nits are hard to see with the naked eye, as they're only as large as a knot in a piece of thread. Usually white or yellow in color, they are often confused with dandruff or scabs. Dandruff would move when blown on.

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HOW TO TREAT LICE

Head lice are found most often on the back of the neck and behind the ears. Although lice can't jump or fly, they can spread very easily from person to person through head-to-head contact or through shared clothing or personal items (such as a hat, towel, or hairbrush). Contrary to popular myth, personal hygiene has nothing to do with getting head lice.

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WHERE TO BUY

If you suspect that your child has head lice, there are a few easy steps you can follow to confirm that you need to begin treatment. Once you determine that the condition it is, in fact, lice, you'll want to act quickly to kill the lice, remove the nits and stop the problem from spreading.

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HOW TO STOP THE SPREAD AND PREVENT REINFESTATION

Reinfestation — or getting lice again after already being treated for it — is a real concern. No one is immune to head lice. If lice treatment is not followed properly, personal belongings such as hats or brushes are shared, or steps aren't taken to rid your home of lice, they can come back and your child can get infested again.

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DANDRUFF

Dandruff consists of white, oily-looking flakes of dead skin that dot your hair and shoulders, and a possibly itchy, scaly scalp. The condition may worsen during the fall and winter, when indoor heating can contribute to dry skin, and improve during the summer.

The good news is that dandruff usually can be controlled. Mild cases of dandruff may need nothing more than daily shampooing with a gentle cleanser. More-stubborn cases of dandruff often respond to medicated shampoos. See a doctor if over-the-counter (OTC) dandruff shampoos aren't helping, or if your scalp becomes red or swollen.

Dandruff isn't contagious or serious. But it can be embarrassing and sometimes difficult to treat.

Learn more here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dandruff/home/ovc-20215279

TICK

Ticks are small arachnids, require blood meals from humans or animals, and can carry serious diseases. Ticks do not jump, fly, or drop. They simply reach out with their legs and grab or crawl onto a host.*

If you find a tick attached to your skin, there's no need to panic. There are several tick removal devices on the market, but a plain set of fine-tipped tweezers will remove a tick effectively.

Learn how to remove it safely here: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html

And check for symptoms of tickborne illness https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/symptoms.html

* http://www.medicinenet.com/ticks/article.htm

BED BUG

Bed bugs can be hard to find and identify, given their small size and their habit of staying hidden. Bites on the skin are a poor indicator of a bed bug infestation. Bed bug bites can look like bites from other insects (such as mosquitoes or chiggers), rashes (such as eczema or fungal infections), or even hives. Some people do not react to bed bug bites at all.

A more accurate way to identify a possible infestation is to look for physical signs of bed bugs. When cleaning, changing bedding, or staying away from home, look for:

Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed.
Dark spots (about this size: •), which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a marker would.
Eggs and eggshells, which are tiny (about 1mm) and pale yellow skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger.
When not feeding, bed bugs hide in a variety of places. Around the bed, they can be found near the piping, seams and tags of the mattress and box spring, and in cracks on the bed frame and headboard.

Bed bugs are not known to transmit or spread disease.

For more information, visit: www.epa.gov/bedbugs/