Subscribe to get free news, tips and updates. Head lice infestations are a common problem in infants and children, even in those who practice good hygiene and frequent hair washing. The most common symptom of children infected with head lice is itching , although some children do not complain if they have a light infestation. They move very fast and are most commonly seen at the back of the neck and behind the ears. Lice can only survive for two to three days when off of the human body.
Nits are eggs from the adult lice and are whitish and are firmly attached to hairs.
The eggs hatch in 6-10 days and it then takes another two to three weeks for the lice to mature and be able to reproduce. Although many schools and day care centers have no nit policies, just because you have nits doesn't mean that you will have a lice infestation. Even after nits hatch, the casing can stay on the hair for a long time and it is hard to tell the difference between a nit with a live louse embryo in it, which can be infectious, and an empty one. Nits are more likely to contain a live embryo if they are close to the scalp. First, do a thorough check of your child's hair and scalp to look for live lice.