Head lice are insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. They are a common problem across the country, with about 6 to 12 million children between the ages of 3 and 11 getting them annually. Adults are not safe from this annoying, parasitic tick either. Head lice are among the few everyday things that bother every culture and socioeconomic class in the country. Here are some critical details about head lice:

Symptoms
If an individual suspects that they have a lice problem, they can check for the following symptoms:

• Lice eggs on the hair shaft
  Lice breed quickly, laying several eggs on their hosts’ heads daily. These eggs stick to hair shafts and are generally hard to spot due to their tiny size. People with lice can spot these eggs around their ears and necks. Conversely, in many cases, lice eggs do not guarantee live lice, as many are empty. Such eggs are easier to spot as they are lighter in color.
• Itchy scalp
  Lice generally live and thrive on their hosts’ scalps. They are small and hard to spot. Moreover, they also move incredibly quickly. This causes people with lice to experience a constant sensation of movement in their hair, causing itching on their scalp, ears, and neck. Itching tends to be an allergic reaction to louse bites. Generally, when a person has lice, the itching does not start for the first 4 to 6 weeks.
• Sores on neck, shoulders, and scalp
  People with lice tend to scratch the itchy areas in their neck, scalp, and shoulders. This makes those areas red and sore. Additionally, scratching too hard on those areas can create wounds where bacterial growth is imminent.

Causes
Here are some of the main reasons why people have lice infestations on their heads:

People get lice from others when they share personal belongings like combs and hats. They can also get it through direct contact. Unlike popular perception, poor hygiene does not cause a bad lice infestation. To avoid getting lice, one must maintain a safe distance from someone with a lice infestation until the latter gets treated and recovers.

Treatment options
Home-based lice treatment options are pretty effective in dealing with the condition. Here’s how treating lice at home works:

• Organic lice removal shampoos are effective in treating this condition.
• One can use lice shampoo to cleanse their head. After applying the shampoo to one’s scalp, they must make sure they lather it well.
• One can leave the shampoo on for a few minutes before rinsing their head. After the wash, one can use a lice comb to gently sieve through their hair and kill or eliminate the dead and semi-dead lice lingering around their scalp.
• The following day, one can repeat the procedure to rid their head of the remaining eggs or lice that survived the first wash. This process ensures the complete cleaning of one’s head.