What Size Are Head Lice?
If you suspect that your child may have head lice, the first thing you need to do is to examine the child’s hair. Lice are tiny creatures, and you can only see them if you look closely. The eggs they lay look like tiny specks, attached to individual hair shafts about 0.5 cm away from the scalp. They are very difficult to see if you have never seen one before, and you may even mistake them for dandruff. The adult lice are around the size of a sesame seed.
Head lice are tiny, wingless insects that live inside your hair. They have a life cycle that lasts 35 days. The adults live in the head and feed on your hair. After they have matured, the lice will lay eggs, which are referred to as nits. These nits hatch into adult lice. Once the lice hatch, they will lay more eggs.
Adult lice are about the size of a sesame seed and are grayish-white or tan in color. The life cycle of a head louse includes three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The eggs hatch within six to nine days after hatching, and the nymphs become adults seven days after hatching. The adult head louse will lay at least 10 eggs per day, and they can live for up to two weeks off the scalp.
Head lice can be spread from person to person within the same household, and it is important to treat any infestation immediately to prevent the spread of the infection. In addition, you should keep children away from other children’s heads, especially if they’ve been in close contact with someone with lice. It is also important to remember that head lice spread by direct contact with the scalp. You should also keep your child’s hair covered when they’re in school or at home.