Can Head Lice Fly Or Jump?
WouterIf you suspect your child has head lice, you should try to treat him or her as soon as possible. You should also notify others who may have been in contact with your child. It is not necessary to treat the whole family unless everyone has an infestation. In most cases, the treatment for head lice is simple. Simply change the pillowcase and wash it in hot water and then dry it in a hot clothes dryer.
Although head lice cannot jump or fly, they can be spread through close contact. They are spread by direct head-to-head contact, but can also be transmitted through personal items and clothing. The good news is that household pets do not spread head lice. These creatures live for about 24 hours on their hosts’ heads, so their spread is very slow.
If you are close to someone with lice, it is not advisable to swim with them. This may spread the infestation to other people. Moreover, swimming may reduce the effectiveness of some head lice medicines. This is why it is so important to avoid contact with infested people at the swimming pool.
When you see an infestation of head lice, remember that these creatures are only two to three millimeters long and can survive for about 30 days without blood. Their eggs will hatch and mature in about seven to ten days after hatching. Besides that, female head lice lay 3-5 eggs per day. Depending on the type of treatment you’re using, it could take up to 30 days to eradicate them from your child’s head.
