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

• Itching : Intense itching on the scalp, neck, and behind the ears is the most common symptom, caused by an allergic reaction to lice bites. This itching may take a few weeks to develop after the initial infestation

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

• Visible lice : Adult lice are tiny, about the size of a sesame or poppy seed, gray or tan, and move quickly on the scalp, especially near the nape of the neck and behind the ears

• Nits (lice eggs) : These are small, oval, and usually white, yellowish, or brownish, resembling dandruff but firmly attached to hair shafts close to the scalp (about ¼ inch from the scalp). Unlike dandruff, nits cannot be easily brushed or flicked off

• Red bumps or sores : Scratching may cause red bumps or sores on the scalp, neck, or shoulders, which can sometimes lead to secondary infections

• Other signs : Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or pink eye can occasionally accompany lice infestations

How to check for lice:

• Wet the hair to slow down lice movement.
• Use a fine-toothed comb (nit comb) to carefully comb through the hair, especially near the scalp, behind the ears, and at the nape of the neck.
• Use bright light to help spot lice or nits.
• Look for live lice crawling or for nits glued to hair shafts.
• Nits are easier to spot than live lice and are a key indicator of infestation

If you find live lice or nits firmly attached to hair shafts, you likely have lice. Itching alone does not confirm lice, as other scalp conditions can cause similar symptoms