A 9-year-old presents with scalp pruritus. The nurse finds oval white capsules attached to hair shafts within ¼ inch of the scalp. What is the best interpretation?

A. Scabies mite infestation: Scabies is caused by mites that burrow into the skin, leading to intense itching and linear burrow tracks. It does not present with white capsules attached to hair shafts. B. Evidence of fungal infection: Fungal scalp infections such as tinea capitis typically present with circular patches of hair loss, scaling, and sometimes black dots where hairs have broken off. They do not manifest as oval white capsules firmly attached to hair shafts. C. Presence of viable head lice nits: Head lice nits are oval white or yellowish capsules firmly attached to the base of hair shafts, usually within ¼ inch of the scalp. Their firm adherence and location near the scalp, where warmth promotes hatching. D. Presence of dandruff: Dandruff presents as flaky white scales that are loosely attached to the scalp and hair. These flakes can easily be brushed away, unlike lice nits, which are firmly cemented to the hair shaft and difficult to remove.