Nits in Children

Head lice are a common problem among children. This tiny, wingless parasitic insect can live in human hair and feed off the blood in the scalp. Lice reproduce and lay eggs called nits. Although they cannot spread diseases, lice are a cause of discomfort and irritation. They are highly contagious in children and should be taken care of at the first sign. To understand nits, you must understand lice, signs of and infestation, how they spread and the treatments available.

Basics

• Although very small, lice can be seen with the naked eye. A thorough examination of your child's scalp will reveal lice, which are about as big as a sesame seed, or nits. Nits are lice eggs and they are oval-shaped and yellow or white in color. Nits can be easily mistaken for dandruff.

  "Lice feed off the blood in the skin and deposit eggs or nits on the hair shafts or along the lining of clothing," according to the Native Remedies website.

  Once stuck to the hair shaft, nits are difficult to brush off. Nits take approximately one week to hatch, producing nymphs, which go on to become adult lice within one to two weeks. Lice multiply quickly and are highly contagious. Lice and nits can affect anyone, although they are most commonly found in children, ages 3 to 12. Nits and lice will affect girls more than boys because they have longer hair.

Signs

• Nits and lice cause a child's scalp to become itchy, inflamed and irritated from scratching. However, children may not begin to scratch immediately. Itching from lice and nits depends on the child's skin sensitivity and can sometimes takes a couple weeks to develop irritation. Once a child's head begins to itch, they may tell you that it feels like something moving on their head, according to the Kids Health website. Some children may develop a rash on their scalp.

Spreading

• Children can spread lice quickly, leading to the reproduction of lice and nits. Lice are spread through person-to-person contact. For this reason, lice outbreaks are taken seriously in schools. Lice are also spread when children share personal items such as towels, brushes, combs, pillows or hats. At school, jackets, coats and scarves that are hung close to one another can cause lice to spread.

Treatment

• There are many over-the-counter and prescription treatments for lice and nits. Store-bought lice treatments are typically strong, chemical-ridden insecticides that are alcohol-based. However, water-based insecticides are available for children who experience eczema, asthma or allergies. Fine-toothed combs are available to remove nits. They work when you wet a child's hair and comb through each section from root to tip. Wet combing should take place every three days for two weeks to ensure that all the nits are gone. There are also many natural remedies available if you prefer that your child not be exposed to harsh chemicals. Herbal ingredients such as neem, rosemary and lavender have natural insecticide properties, while tea tree oil and rose geranium help loosen nits and prevent re-infestation.