Oh gross you poor thing, are you sure it isn't head lice? I had it as a kid, and my mom had to wash everything with bleach, cloths, linens, everything.

Head lice are parasitic insects found most commonly behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the neck. The medical term for head lice infestation is Pediculus humanus capitis. There are 6 – 12 millions cases of head lice in the United States every year more commonly in children than adults. Head lice infestations are actually rare in African Americans possibly because the louse prefers a specific hair shape and width. A head lice infestation can be psychologically disturbing, but head lice are not a health hazard and are not responsible for the spread of any disease. The life cycle of the head louse has three stages: nit, nymph, and adult. The life cycle of a single louse from egg to egg is about 1 month. Nits: Head lice eggs are called nits. Nits are laid by the adult female louse and are attached to the base of the hair shaft by strong cement. They are located close to the scalp because they require body heat for incubation. More nit characteristics: * Size - 0.8mm by 0.3mm * Shape – Oval * Color - Yellow to white * Location – Within 6 mm of the scalp * Duration - Nits take 6 – 9 days to hatch. Nymphs: When an egg hatches, it releases a nymph. The nit shell stays attached to the hair and turns a dull yellow color. The nymph looks like an adult louse but is smaller. As the nymph grows, it molts out of its exoskeleton 3 times before it becomes an adult. More nymph characteristics: * Size – Variable but about the size of a pinhead * Shape – Same shape as the adult louse * Color – Yellow to rust-colored * Location – Close to the scalp, especially behind the ears and at the neckline * Duration – Nymphs become adults after about 7 days Adult: The adult louse feeds about 5 times a day by piercing the skin with its claws, injecting irritating saliva, and sucking blood. Lice do not become engorged like ticks, but their color changes to a rust color after feeding. Head lice hold onto the hair with hook-like claws found at the end of each of their 6 legs. Adult lice are active and can travel quickly. More adult characteristics: * Size – The size of a pinhead. The female louse is larger than the male. * Shape – Oval with 3 legs and claws at the end of each leg * Color – Rust * Location – Close to the scalp, especially behind the ears and at the neckline * Duration – Adult lice can live up to 30 days on a person’s head * Reproduction – An adult female can lay up to 8 nits per day Symptoms of Head Lice * Scalp itching * Sensation of something moving in the hair * Red or pustular sores on the scalp caused by scratching * Swollen lymph nodes in the front and back of the neck Transmission of Head Lice Head lice can be spread by direct contact with the head or hair of an infested person. The adult louse can survive up to 1-2 days without feeding on the scalp; therefore can be found on objects that have been in contact with an infested person. Examples of objects that commonly spread head lice are: * Clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, and sports uniforms * Hair care instruments such as combs, brushes, or towels * Other objects such as pillows, beds, carpet, and stuffed animals Diagnosis of Head Lice A head lice infestation is diagnosed by direct visualization of the lice in any portion of the life cycle. Usually there are many more nits than adults or nymphs. Finding nits within a quarter inch from the scalp confirms an infestation that needs to be treated. Nits can be distinguished from dandruff flakes as they are extremely adherent to the hair shaft, whereas dandruff can be easily moved on along the hair shaft. Medications that kill head lice are called pediculicides. All pediculicides except malathion are applied to the scalp and hair and left on for 10 minutes, then rinsed off. Pediculicides kill nymphs and adult lice, but do not destroy nits. For this reason, they may need to be reapplied 7-10 days after the first application to kill newly emerged nymphs. Because some pediculicides have significant toxicities, it is important to follow application directions carefully. Permethrin Permethrin is the preferred first-line treatment for head lice. Permethrin 1% (Nix) is available over the counter, and permethrin 5% (Elimite) is available by prescription. Permethrin is a cream rinse that is designed to leave a residue after rinsing that kills emerging nymphs, so reapplication is usually not needed. Pyrethrins Plus Piperonyl Butoxide (Rid) Rid is a shampoo that can cause an allergic reaction in people who have plant allergies, especially allergies to chrysthanthemums. Twenty to thirty percent of the eggs remain viable after treatment, so a second treatment is recommended in 7-10 days. Lindane (Kwell) Lindane is available only by prescription. It should only be used cautiously if a first-line treatment has failed because several cases of seizures in children have been reported. Malathion Malathion is a prescription lotion that is applied to the hair, left to air dry, then washed off after 8-12 hours. Because it has a high alcohol content, it is highly flammable and can cause difficulty breathing if it is ingested. For these reasons, it should only be used for resistant cases of head lice. Oral Agents Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Septra, Bactrim) is an oral antibiotic, given as a 10-day course, which has been shown to be effective at treating resistant infestations of head lice. Ivermectin (Stromectol) is an antiparasitic drug given as a single dose that has also been shown to effectively treat resistant head lice infestations. However, neither of these drugs is FDA approved for use as a pediculicide. Nit Removal Treatment with a pediculicide kills adult lice and nymphs preventing the spread of head lice infestation to other people. Removal of nits is recommended to reduce confusion about the effectiveness of treatment. Nits within 1 cm of the scalp should be physically removed by a fine toothed comb. A variety of agents are available to break down the cement holding the nit to the hair shaft including distilled white vinegar, formic acid preparations, and enzymatic nit removal systems. Using one of these agents prior to nit combing makes it easier to remove nits. Nits that are present on the hair shaft greater than 1 cm from the scalp are not considered to be viable and do not have to be removed. Treatment of Head Lice Contacts According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if a case of head lice is identified, all household members should be checked for head lice. Only those with live lice or eggs within 1 cm of the scalp should be treated. It is also recommended that all hair care items and bedding belonging to the infested person be cleaned.