The steady growth of any child will make him to be more active. In this kind of situation parents may not be there at all times with their children especially when they attain the stage they will begin schooling. Playing around could make them pick up parasites which may escape the notice of their parents until they begin to manifest their damage. Head lice are among such parasites that commonly attack children. These are insects that lay their eggs on hairs very close to the scalp and they children of school age are usually affected by these insects. If you observe that your child is hosting lice, this does not necessarily mean your child is dirty or you are not responsible enough. It is so easy to have your child’s hair infected with these insects and usually most families have it once. However the good news is treatment for these insects is very easy.

The bites from head lice can be very itchy and can cause a lot of discomfort to the host. The scalp could also become infected from scratching however it is a little bit comforting to know that they are quite harmless and do not spread diseases.

Some Basic Facts about Head Lice You Should Know Shape And Body Size
These insects are about 2-3 mm long. They do not have wings but have 6 legs which are clawed at their ends. They neither hop nor jump but can crawl very quickly. As they are able to move on the scalp, seeing them is usually difficult. With the way their legs are structured, they can cling hard to hair strands and move swiftly.

Reproduction
Head lice mature very quickly and after 2 weeks after birth they are also capable of reproducing. It is the female of the head lice that lays eggs and each female can lay up to 150 to 300 eggs. The eggs which are spindle-shaped are whitish in color and firmly attached to the hair strands. The appearance of these eggs is a sure sign that a child has been infected with head lice.

Feeding And Special Requirements For Survival
Head lice survive by feeding on the blood of their host. They find the warmth generated by the scalp of their host very conducive for them and breed very fast. They find it difficult to survive anywhere else but on a human head. If head lice are found on bedding, carpets or anywhere else but a human head, they are old, dead or sick.

Those Who May Have Head Lice and Likely Causes of Its Infection
There is no one that can not suffer from the infection of head lice but children are more likely to suffer from these parasites than adults. The reason behind this is that children tend to play together closely and this can  spread easily. Children of primary school age are the ones most vulnerable to head lice. However who for any reason have head to head contact with someone who already has head lice could easily get them too.

The situation could be worsen if adults have head lice because they usually do not foresee how they can become affected with head lice and this can make them transfer to other family members before they eventually get to know.

How Head Lice Spread
Head lice can spread in a number of ways and it is better to know the ways these parasites spread to that they can be better prevented.

Spreading of head lice is usually through head to head contact. You may therefore want to make sure you keep your child away from playing these close with other children as much as you can.

The habit of sharing hats and brushes can easily get the parasites to spread very quickly.

They are less likely to be shared through furniture, carpets or beddings because they can not survive away from the warmth and food the human scalp provides for them.

Treatments That May Be Given To Your Child for Head LiceThere are different types of chemicals that can be used for the treatment of head lice. However care must be taken to follow the instructions as they are given on the labels.

Some forms of lotions or shampoos may be used for treatment

You may consult your doctor on the type of treatment that should be given to your child if he usually reacts to the use of chemicals or lotions.

Whatever type of treatment given, it is better to repeat it after about 7 to 10 days of the first treatment. This will ensure that all lice that escaped treatment because they were eggs will be destroyed totally.