Concerned

Wow, thanks to those of you who answer questions and help keep people from panicking here. What a kindness!

My best friend runs a preschool, and I see her and her son, who is almost three, around once a week. I always hug my friend saying hello and goodbye, and I carry her son and get silly with him.

A few days ago she let me know they had lice. Today she updated me that she had used a service to get rid of them and that the woman who helped them said they are now lice free, but she said my friend must have had them for awhile, because they were at all stages. She also said my friend had many while her son seemed to have a much lighter infestation.

I have always had an itchy scalp, but of course now I am worried what I have been thinking of as normal itchiness could be lice. How likely is it I could have gotten lice from my friend and her son based on the kind of contact we have? Should I go to the doctor and ask someone to examine my scalp? (I live alone so I don't really have someone who could do this for me.) And is it really safe for me to see my friend and her son now as long as we don't have "head to head" contact?

When I can't see them I really miss them! And also I have very thick, curly hair and it seems like getting rid of lice would be a nightmare for me. She paid almost $500 for this service.

Thank you in advance for any guidance, it is really, truly appreciated!