WHEN to look:
- If recently exposed to head lice, twice weekly
- If recently had head lice, daily for 2 weeks
- Whenever the head itches
WHO should be checked?
- Each person living in the household
WHERE to look:
- Where it itches
- At the nape of the neck, around and above the ears, at the crown of the head
- Then through the entire head from top to bottom
WHAT to look for:
- Live lice and nits (lice eggs)
What do lice LOOK LIKE?
- About the size of a sesame seed
- Clear tan to dark red-brown in colour and move quickly, especially from light
What do lice eggs (nits) LOOK LIKE?
- About the size of a grain of sand, opal or translucent in colour
- Don’t confuse with dandruff and hair products, which may be easily moved by blowing or whisking
- Nits are firmly attached to the hair shaft. These are lice eggs.
Do lice move?
- Lice crawl very fast from light. They do not fly.
- Nits do not move. They are firmly attached to the hair shaft.
How can they be found?
- LOOK – using bright light or sunlight (next to a window)
- USE – disposable sticks (pencil, toothpick, etc.) to part hair in small sections and look carefully for small nits
- MOST COMMON AREAS are behind the ears, at the nape of the neck and around forehead
Nit Ridders 