The head lice are most commonly found behind the ears and at the back of the neck. It is rare to find them on the body, eyelashes, or eyebrows. A person with head lice may feel a tickling or itching feeling of something moving in the hair. Most people only realise that they have head lice after the itch has developed which can take from one week to 2-3 months after initial infection. Itching may also occur due to an allergic reaction to the bites.
Sores can develop due to scratching and can become infected.
Head lice are not a serious health problem. Head lice rarely cause anything more than an itchy scalp. Head lice are a mild disease. Some schools used to have routine screening, followed by the exclusion of those affected. This was a waste of time.