Can You Have Head Lice Without Nits?

Lice eggs are easily visible in the hair, but can you really have lice without nits? Often the eggs are white, but some are tan, brown, or even clear. These eggs hatch into live lice in about one to two weeks. The first clue that you may have lice is itching. This is a reaction to the saliva of the lice. In some cases, you may also develop a small red bump that you can scratch.

It is important to get treatment as soon as possible, especially if you suspect your child has head lice. You should contact your pediatrician immediately, or else you may risk making the situation worse. If your child is in daycare, you should also alert the school or daycare. It is also important to check other members of your family to ensure they do not have head lice. If they do have lice, it’s best to treat all of them at once.

Lice are crafty critters that are good at hiding. In fact, they’d win an Olympic gold medal in hide-and-seek! Despite their ability to move around the light, head lice usually prefer a place in hiding around the nape of the neck or behind the ears.