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Head Lice
What are head lice?
Head lice are parasitic insects found on the heads of people. They are about the size of a sesame seed. Having head lice is very common. There is no reliable data on the prevalence of head lice. Head lice have been with mankind for centuries. The dried up remains of lice have been found on the scalp of Egyptian mummies.
For more details on the lifecycle of lice, see Head Lice.
Who is at risk for getting head lice?
The greatest risk come from close contact with someone who already has head lice. There is also a posibility of acquiring lice from contact with clothing or other personal items that belong to an infested person. Another high risk group are families with children who attend pre-school or elementary school. Females have a higher risk than males.
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Where are head lice most commonly found?
They are most commonly found on the scalp, behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the neck. Head lice hold on to hair with hook-like claws found at the end of each of their six legs. Head lice are rarely found on the body, eyelashes, or eyebrows.
What are the signs and symptoms of head lice infestation?
- Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair.
- Itching, caused by an allergic reaction to the bites.
- Irritability.
- Sores on the head caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected.
How is head lice infestation diagnosed?
An infestation is diagnosed by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits (eggs), nymphs (young lice), or adults. Finding a nymph or adult may be difficult; there are usually few of them and they can move quickly from searching fingers. If crawling lice are not seen, finding nits within a 1/4 inch of the scalp confirms that a person is infested and should be treated. If you only find nits more than 1/4 inch from the scalp (and don't see a nymph or adult louse), the infestation is probably an old one and does not need to be treated.
If you are not sure if a person has head lice, the diagnosis should be made by your health care provider, school nurse, or a professional from the local health department or agricultural extension service.
Some Myths about Head Lice
- People with lice scratch or itch. Fact: Initial infestation may produce no signs or symptoms for 4-6 weeks.
- Lice jump or fly. Fact: Lice cannot jump (they do not have the proper legs for jumping) and they cannot fly.
- Lice live in carpets, beds, clothes, and sofas Fact: Lice can only live for 24 hours away from a human host.
- One treatment is enough to kill lice. Fact: Due to loss of residual activity, two treatments are recommended to kill newly hatched nymphs.
- Everyone in the family should be treated. Fact: Only those with a proven infestation should be treated, although everyone should be checked at least once per week.
- Head lice prefer long or dirty hair. Fact: Lice do not care about hair length or cleanliness.
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