Signs and Symptoms of Head Lice

Since school has begun and gradeschoolers, especially the girls, have a tendency to borrow each other's combs, parents should remind their children to use their own combs, hairbrush, hair accessories and hats. However, if, in case it's too late and your daughter had caught her classmate's headlice, here are the symptoms to watch out for and what we can do to cure them: How will I know if my child has headlice? - there is intense itching on the scalp and even the neck. - you find red bite marks on the scalp as well as the neck. - there are eggs of lice (ew!) on the hair. You won't miss them as they look like dandruff! - the lymph behind the child's ear is swollen Ok, calm down mommy... it's not the end of the world and this is what you can do: - use medicated shampoo that's meant to cure lice - make sure you thoroughly wash combs, hairdbrush and hair accessories. How soak them in alcohol or lice shampoo for many hours! (being an OC, I'd soak them overnight!) - wash all used pillows, pillowcases, towels in hot (not lukewarm, ok) water - this one sounds exhausting, but you have to clean ALL mattresses, carpets, rugs and upholstered furnitures on a regular basis. - if there are discharges or boils on the scalp, better go see a doctor.