Do Head Lice Still Exist?

You may be wondering, “Do head lice still exist?” Most lice infestations occur in children, but they can also occur in adults. Thankfully, lice are generally harmless and can be easily treated. In most cases, lice are spread through head-to-head contact and by sharing items worn on or around the head.

Once, if you suspect your child has head lice, you should send him or her home from school. While this policy used to be popular, doctors now don’t recommend it. Instead, doctors recommend staying home until the end of the day so your child can be treated. It’s also a good idea to keep long hair up in a bun, braid, or ponytail.

Head lice are tiny, grayish-white insects. Their life cycle is approximately three weeks long. They feed on blood from the scalp several times a day. Unlike most other insects, head lice cannot live for more than a day without a blood meal. Then, after feeding, they lay their eggs. These nits are oval in shape and about the size of a thread knot.

Head lice are passed from person to person through direct contact, and through infected clothing. Lice are most likely to infest your hair when you share a room with a child. They can also be spread through your eyes and eyebrows.