Are Head Lice and Body Lice the Same?

While body lice and head lice can look similar, they are not the same. Body lice are much larger and live on clothes. They also can live without feeding for up to a week. While head lice are an annoyance, body lice are a serious health threat. The difference lies in the biology of the parasites. Unlike head lice, which feed on the human host, body lice live on clothing and cannot survive without the warmth of the host for 24 hours.

Head lice are spread mainly through direct head-to-head contact. However, they can also be transmitted by sharing clothes and belongings. Head lice spread through nits attached to shed hairs. This makes it difficult to detect lice on clothing. Infested clothing and bedding must be washed thoroughly and dried in a dryer.

If you are unsure whether you have head lice, you can try using a special lice shampoo or decontaminate clothing. This will eliminate the nits and kill the lice in your clothing for up to two weeks. Lice treatments are available over the counter and through prescription. Using one of these products is not a substitute for professional treatment, but it will definitely kill lice.

Adult head lice are approximately two millimeters long, grayish-white, or white, and are attached to the hair with their six legs. Lice develop for about 20 days and lay up to three hundred eggs. They lay their eggs in folds of clothing and hair. Lice eggs are held in place by an accessory gland. When the lice nymph hatches, they leave behind clear shells. These clear shells are often grey in color.