05/03/2025
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Head Lice?
Even though they're tiny, you can see head lice.
Here's what to look for:
Lice eggs (nits). These look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots before they hatch. Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits look a bit like dandruff, but aren't removed by brushing or shaking them off.
Unless a child has many head lice, it's more common to see nits in the hair than live lice crawling on the scalp. Lice eggs hatch 7 to 10 days after they're laid. After hatching, the remaining shell looks white or clear and stays attached to the hair shaft. This is when it's easiest to spot them, as the hair is growing longer and the egg shell is moving away from the scalp.
Adult lice and nymphs (baby lice).
Adult lice are no bigger than a sesame seed and are grayish-white or tan. Nymphs are smaller and become adult lice about 1–2 weeks after they hatch. Most lice feed on blood several times a day, and they can survive up to 5 days off the scalp.
Scratching.
With lice bites come itching and scratching. This is due to a reaction to the saliva (spit) of lice. But the itching doesn't always start right away. It depends on how sensitive a child's skin is to the lice. It might take weeks for kids with lice to start scratching. They may complain, though, of things tickling or moving around on their heads.
Small red bumps or sores from scratching. Some kids have mild irritation from scratching, while others may get a bothersome rash. Scratching a lot can lead to a bacterial infection. Watch for swollen lymph nodes (glands) on the back or front of the neck, and red, tender skin that might have crusting and oozing. Doctors can treat a skin infection with an antibiotic
