How Do Bed Bugs Turn Into Head Lice?
WouterYou may wonder if you’ve got head lice when you discover large, red spots on your head. While bedbugs spend most of their time away from human hosts, lice spend most of their time on the human host. They attach to human hair with specialized claws and rarely move from their host unless they are dislodged, attracted to another human head, or repelled by pesticides.
While bedbugs aren’t known to transmit diseases, their habit of hiding indoors is unfavorable for humans and children. They tend to feed during the night and return to their hiding place after feeding. They’re unable to transmit disease, but they do cause discomfort and itchiness, which can turn into social trauma for those who have them.
A healthcare professional can determine if you’ve got head lice and can determine the proper treatment. This usually involves applying over-the-counter or prescription medications to kill the lice. A healthcare professional will also look at the bites to confirm the diagnosis. Although bedbug bites are rarely painful, they can become infected when you scratch them.
You can avoid being infected by head lice by being alert while traveling and checking for bedbug nits. While adult bedbugs may look similar to baby head lice, you can easily tell the difference by looking for the nits on your head. Head lice are smaller than bedbugs and can also be prevented by being aware of where you’re staying and where you’re sleeping.
