AIBU to think head lice can bite elsewhere?

[Bridgeofpies]

If not then what the hell is biting my DD?

OK so here is the background:
5 year old DD complained of itchy head about 10 days ago (during school hols). I nit combed her hair 4 times over a week but didn’t see a single louse, just found 3 egg cases and a couple of small raised red welts on her scalp and one on the back of her neck which were itchy. I decided no smoke without fire so treated her for nits.

I’ve also not combed again and not found anything more.

BUT she keeps getting random bites! In particular on her scalp but this morning has 3 on her back, chest and shoulder. What the hell coild it be!? Bites are about 5-7mm across once they have come up - this morning he ones on her body were small red dots but now look like the attached.

We don’t have any pets, she hasn’t been in contact with dogs. She did go to a petting zoo a couple of weeks ago but would fleas transfer and last that long? We haven’t been anywhere on holiday in the last 6 months to pick up bed bugs... I’m at a loss!

Tbh those look like the spots my son had on the first day of chicken pox

Midges? Mosquitos?

Oh I should have said, she had chicken pox last year - but you’re right. When I first saw the one on her neck last week I said to DH that it looked like early CP! But I think I can see a little hole at the top (I guess it could be a pore) and they don’t seem to turn into the typical CP blister.

Are they itchy?

I am still getting bitten by midges whenever I walk on the grass in the late afternoon / early evening.

Could be mosquitos or midges I guess but she was wearing a nightie so not sure how they are getting to her skin - and do they often bite through hair? I would’ve thought mosquitos would bite her face but not her scalp.

Yes, they are itchy!

It won't be the head lice but there are loads of biting insects around this summer. Midges flies, cat fleas, dog fleas. Mosquitos. The size and appearance of the bites won't help you identify them. It depends entirely on how much her immune system reacts to the bites. To be honest you may never find out. Unless it continues to be a problem I wouldn't worry about it

By the way I have had a bite from a horse fly through denim jeans!

Both my sons have had chicken pox twice so I wouldn’t necessarily rule it out. Mildly the first time and absolutely horrifically the second.

I'm getting eaten alive by midges or some such this past week. Think the bout of rain and then warmth has brought them all out.
If they spread or persist then consider rash or chicken pox.

Mozzies are evil bastards, and seem to be able to get under loose clothing to have a snack.
Not had a bite on my face yet, but do get them on my hip, as well as more exposed forearms and calves.
No idea what the bites could be tho.

Just discovered 2 more, one in her armpit and one at the top of her arm! I’m starting to wonder if it is viral after all! It’s so weird! There is a little dot in the centre but hard to tell if it’s due to a bite or a pore!

Oh and don’t think it’s horse fly because I’ve had one of those and they are painful! These are just itchy.

Bed bugs??

Mosquito bites. I had a few last week from early evening gardening. In the crook of my arm, around my midriff, under my bust. Antihistamines help.

My DC have had chicken pox more than once OP so I'd keep an eye on it just incase,has she been feeling poorly the last few days?Alot of children that go down with chicken pox feel ill a few days before the spots come up.

Could be viral. My teen had something similar last week and was also ever so slightly sniffly and warm, so I reckon it was a virus. Looked like a small scattering of chicken pox across various parts of her body, plus a big red itchy patch on her scalp. I kept a bit of an eye on her and warned her to take quick action if she felt suddenly unwell, in case of meningitis or anything like that.

Keep re-checking your dd for lice though, because it seems pretty clear she did have them recently and if you've missed even a few eggs they will be back soon!

Yes will keep checking for nits because she definitely did have them before the summer holidays and they have been rife at school!

No new spots this morning.

I don’t think it’s chickwn pox because she got the first spots around 2 weeks ago and they never turned into the typical CP blisters. They do have a bit of a wet centre but could also be consistent with a nasty bite. It’s so weird!

Oh and she was a bit under the weather about 10 days ago, just a teeny bit warm for a day but who knows if that’s connected!?

They look like bed bug bites. Check her bed.

I could be wrong but no denying theyre very similar.

In answer to your question yes they can bite elsewhere.

If you found egg casings then she has probably got nits but just not big enough yet to see.

Did you boil wash all her bedding, towels? Retreat her for nits after 7 days?

I would rule out the obvious first as they do look like bites

Ok I'm going to be the first to say that I didn't realise head lice actually bite! I thought they make your head itch because they crawl around in the hair....?

LittleYes they bite,they live off blood.

The itching is caused by a reaction to the flea's saliva,that's why not everyone that gets headlice itches.