Lice and Insect Bites

Pediatrician in Sugar Land, Texas

About

Lice

Lice are parasitic insects that survive by feeding on human blood. They infest certain areas of the human body. Lice can be found on the hair of the head, body and pubic area.

What do they look like?

Lice are tan or brown-gray in color and no bigger than a sesame seed. Head and body lice have a segmented body with six legs. Pubic lice have six legs and are shaped like tiny sea crabs.

How do you get lice?

Unlike fleas and ticks, lice don’t jump or fly. They crawl from one person to another. Head lice are most common and are passed from person to person by sharing personal items such as brushes, combs, clothing, towels and hats. Human lice do not live on other animals; they only feed on humans, so dogs, cats, and other pets do not carry human lice.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis can be made by a Sugar Land Physicians health care provider if you are unsure if you have an infestation. By finding eggs or crawling lice in the seams of clothing or on the skin crawling or feeding, we can determine whether you have a lice problem. There are treatments available to kill a lice infestation.

Insect Bites

There is a wide range of insects that bite or sting, including bees, ants, fleas, flies, mosquitoes, wasps and arachnids. Most bites are harmless and cause nothing more than minor discomfort, although some are more serious than others. If you experience an insect bite that develops a rash or doesn’t clear up in a few days, you should consult with your doctor or a Sugar Land Physicians health care provider.

References:
http://www.healthline.com/health/bug-bites
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/body/gen_info/faqs.html