One of the biggest nightmares for parents is annoying head lice. Despite their tiny size, they can cause great discomfort for your children. That’s why it’s important that as a parent you know the symptoms of head lice in children.
During the summer is when there is a greater spread of head lice. But, these insects can take up a house on your child’s head at any time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 6 to 12 million head lice infestations in children ages 3 to 11 each year.
Make sure your child is not part of this number. Learn to know to recognize the symptoms of head lice in children with this important information.
What are head lice?
To begin with, let’s talk about head lice. These pesky invaders are tiny parasites about the size of a grain of rice that lives on people’s heads.
They have no wings and short legs. But, they manage to hop from one person to another. These insects feed on human blood. To get their food, they provoke bites on the head, which cause irritation.
Contrary to popular belief, having or not having head lice has nothing to do with personal hygiene. These insects will simply look for food, regardless of the condition of the scalp.
Nor do they send diseases to the person. Scratching the bites, but, can lead to infections. That is why it is so important to know how to get rid of lice.
Symptoms Of Head Lice In Children
The symptoms of having lice or nits are unmistakable. The problem is that we only notice them when they are already on the head. To find out if your child has head lice, pay attention to the following information.
When lice bite, they cause irritation. This causes children to scratch. Sometimes, from so much scratching, infections appear. We must know how to detect them in time to treat them. Remember to be attentive, otherwise, they could affect the wound even more.
Another way to identify if your child has lice is to get to know these little insects. There are three forms of head lice. Eggs (also known as nits), nymphs (larvae), and adult lice.
We want your children to feel at home with the best educational programs. Our emphasis on creativity will allow your children to develop their social skills and self-awareness. To learn more about the best daycare in Cicero, contact us.
Head lice eggs are yellowish in color. They usually lay their nits very close to the scalp, where the temperature is warmer. Nits hatch in 1 to 2 weeks.
The nymphs are the newly hatched young. During the life cycle of the louse, they grow to a larger size until they become adults. This louse life cycle repeats every 3 weeks when the adult lays new eggs.
If your child has lice, do not resort to home remedies. It is best to seek professional help.
Tips to prevent the spread of head lice in children
To keep lice away from your children’s heads, follow these practical tips.
In case your child has had contact with a friend with lice, vacuum the whole house. Do not forget to clean cushions, carpets, and especially stuffed animals. Also, you should wash the sheets for 5 minutes in very hot water. You can do the same with hairstyling tools and headbands. Do the same with clothes.
You will be surprised to know that lice survive up to 2 days off the head. For hats or caps, the ideal is to apply dry cleaning. Don’t forget to change the bedding as well.
Finally, inspect the head of the little ones every 3-4 days.
At our infant daycare in Cicero, your baby will feel happy, safe, and secure in a nurturing environment. Our program stimulates children’s abilities through music, exercise, and fun activities.
At Bloom & Grow we work with the highest health standards. Therefore, if a child has head lice, parents are informed immediately. In this way, we avoid a plague of lice among our little ones.
We believe that it is our job to help children develop as individuals, and we take this responsibility very seriously. Whether you work for a digital marketing agency or a cleaning service, you’ll find the best fit for your baby at Bloom & Grow. We want your child to feel comfortable at Bloom & Grow so that they can thrive in our care!
