Do Head Lice Come From the Ground?

There are several ways to get rid of head lice. The best way is to keep your bed linens clean. This is not a difficult task, but make sure you don’t share bed linens with anyone who has head lice. Vacuuming can also help reduce the problem. However, you shouldn’t use insecticides because they are ineffective against the lice and nits. You should also avoid using insecticidal shampoos as these can make the problem worse.

If you live in a household where there are children, head lice are more likely to be transmitted to other children. While head lice are most likely to be acquired from other people, they can also be picked up from inanimate objects. Therefore, it is important to vacuum your home regularly to prevent the spread of the disease.

Adult lice can live up to 30 days on your head before they die. The eggs are attached to the hair shafts less than a quarter inch (5 millimeters) from the scalp. These eggs hatch in six to nine days and mature into adult lice within nine to twelve days. Once they mature, they can live for three to four weeks and lay up to 100 eggs.

Adult head lice are reddish brown. They are one-eighth of an inch long and do not have wings. Female lice lay 50-150 eggs, called nits. These eggs are hard to detect because they are so small. They are attached to the hair on the scalp on one side, and they become visible around the second or third day.