To know if you have lice, look for the following signs and symptoms:

• Itching : Intense itching on the scalp, neck, ears, or other affected body areas is the most common symptom. This itching results from an allergic reaction to lice bites and may take a few weeks to start after infestation

• Tickling or crawling sensation : You may feel something moving in your hair or on your scalp

• Visible lice : Adult lice are tiny, wingless insects about the size of a sesame seed or poppy seed, gray or tan in color, and move quickly. They are often found near the nape of the neck and behind the ears

• Nits (lice eggs) : These are tiny, oval-shaped eggs attached firmly to hair shafts close to the scalp, usually about ¼ inch from the scalp. Nits can be white, yellowish, tan, or brown and look like dandruff but do not brush off easily. After hatching, empty nit shells appear clear or white

• Bite marks or rash : Scratching can cause red bumps, sores, or a rash on the scalp or other affected areas. In severe cases, scratching may lead to skin infections

• Swollen lymph nodes or pink eye : Sometimes swollen glands in the neck or conjunctivitis can occur

How to check for lice:

• Use a fine-toothed lice comb on wet hair to catch lice or nits. Comb slowly and wipe the comb on a white paper towel to see if lice or nits are caught

• Examine the scalp carefully, especially behind the ears, at the nape of the neck, and along hair shafts under bright light

• Try to distinguish nits from dandruff by attempting to flick them off; dandruff comes off easily, but nits do not

Lice are more common in children aged 3 to 12 due to close contact but can affect anyone

. In summary, if you experience persistent scalp itching, see small moving insects or firmly attached tiny eggs on hair shafts near the scalp, you likely have lice