Lice are tiny insects that live in hair and feed on a person's blood.
Head lice are commonly found on preschool and school-aged children, especially on the back of the neck and behind the ears.
While anyone can catch lice, the most common carriers of the bug are school-aged children because of their close contact with one another and the fact that children are more likely to share items that can spread lice; like combs, hats, hair accessories, and certain pieces of clothing.
Family members and other individuals who share a living space with school-aged children are also more susceptible to head lice.
Contrary to popular belief, lice are not able to jump or fly.
This means that they can only be spread through direct contact with a person or item that is host to the lice.
At first, a person who has caught head lice may not show any symptoms of the bug.
In fact, it may take weeks or even months after lice have started to spread before one notices any symptoms.
A person carrying lice may not even notice the most common symptoms, like itching and redness around the affected skin.
In some cases, scratching can cause the skin to become raw and the affected skin has been known to crust over and ooze a clear fluid.
In even more extreme cases, hair may fall out of the scalp or the affected area of skin may grow dark.
A doctor or pediatrician can usually determine whether or not a person has a lice infestation by closely examining the hair and scalp.
To be sure, some doctors will even examine a sample of affected hair under a microscope.
In most cases, a lice infestation is treated with over the counter medications, certain lotions, or specifically designed shampoos.
Quite frequently a second application is needed.
In addition, combing through the hair, with a specially designed comb, is essential to remove the nits (louse eggs).
If over the counter solutions don't work, a doctor may prescribe other medications.
In order to treat a lice infestation in children, parents must remember that they are fighting an actual bug, which means they must also consider eggs and lice living in clothing, bed spreads, curtains, etc.
A two-part treatment is typically recommended.
The first part of the treatment is meant to kill off any living lice on a person, while the second treatment is often recommended to kill off any remaining and un-hatched lice eggs.
Even when lice are effectively treated, a person may become re-infested if items and fabrics that they commonly come in contact with are still infested with the lice.
Likewise, if one person in a residence is infested and treated, they may become re-infested if co-habitants are also carriers of the bug and go untreated.
The ease with which head lice can re-infest a person has prompted many health care professionals to recommend that if one person in a home is treated for lice, that every person living in the home be treated as well.