What are the symptoms?
Head lice rarely cause symptoms, although some people find that their head itches, especially if they have had the infection for some time. It should be possible to see 'nits' €“ the snowy white, empty egg casings that remain attached to the hair shaft after the head lice have hatched.
An adult louse is greyish-brown in colour and about the size of a sesame seed. Head lice are not known to transmit diseases. However, there is a risk of secondary skin infection if the scalp is scratched and the skin is broken.