Head lice refers to insects that feed on blood and live close to the human scalp. Lice infestations are common in young children and their family members, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but the parasites are not dangerous to humans and can be eliminated with treatment.
Symptoms
You may notice your toddler scratching his head, although a child can sometimes be infested for weeks before itching begins, according to The Nemours Foundation. Older toddlers may complain about tickling feelings on the scalp, and your child may be restless at night when lice are most active. If itching is intense, your toddler might develop sores on his scalp from scratching. Live lice, which are about the size of a sesame seed and tan to grayish-white, may be noticeable on your child's scalp, according to the CDC. The eggs, or nits, often look like tiny knots close the base of hair shafts, and they may be yellow, white or the same color as your child's hair, according to the CDC.
Transmission
Lice can only move by crawling, and they are most commonly spread through head-to-head contact with an infected person, according to the CDC. Less commonly, lice can be transmitted through shared clothing, hats, hairbrushes and similar items. Rarely, a toddler picks up lice from placing her head on an object, such as a bed, chair or carpet, that an infested person has used.
Treatment
Children over two years old can be treated with an over-the-counter or prescription shampoo, rinse or lotion designed to kill lice and nits. If your toddler is under two, talk to his doctor about treatment options. You may need to avoid medications--or take an additional step--and manually remove lice and nits from a young toddler's hair with a fine-tooth comb. To do this, comb the toddler's wet, conditioned hair every three to four days for two weeks after you see the last live louse, recommends The Nemours Foundation. You can also use a nit comb to improve the appearance of your older toddler's hair after treatment with medication, although nit removal is not necessary to prevent the spread of lice, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Agents used to suffocate lice, such as petroleum jelly and herbal products, have shown some promise as lice treatments, but their effectiveness has not been proven, according to the AAP.
Considerations
Lice do not typically live more than 48 hours off of a human scalp, according to the AAP, so you do not have to spend a lot of time or money cleaning your home. The AAP recommends that you clean items that have been in contact with the head of an infested person within 24 to 48 hours before treatment, according to Environmental Interventions. Wash, soak or dry items like clothing, bedding and hair care items in temperatures of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit to kill lice and nits. It is not necessary to use pesticide sprays to kill lice, as the insects are unlikely to hatch and survive at room temperature, according to the AAP. You can vacuum fabric-covered areas where your toddler frequently spends time, but no other measures are necessary.
Warning
If you think your toddler has lice, talk to his doctor before you begin treatment. Some lice treatments approved for older children are not safe for young toddlers. Always use medications as directed on the package or according to a doctor's instructions; these products are pesticides and may be dangerous if used incorrectly. Never use toxic substances, such as gasoline, kerosene or pesticides designed for animal or other use, in an attempt to remove lice.
