Head Lice – 5 Facts You Didn’t Know

Where Do Head Lice Come From?

Lice are spread from person to person and from clothing item to clothing item. Infested clothing is often stored next to another in cloak rooms and on coat racks. Infected hair brushes, towels, and bedding are also common sources of the disease. While lice cannot survive away from a host for more than 24 hours, they can live on clothing for longer periods of time.

Lice have been around for thousands of years, and their nits have been found on Egyptian mummies. These insects are parasitic, and they feed on human blood. They cannot jump or crawl, so they are only transferred from person to person. They infest individuals of all ages and sex. Because they come from humans, it is not surprising that the incidence of head lice is no different between sexes.

How Do You Know If You Have Lice?

Infected individuals often suffer from itchiness and sleep disturbance, as head lice live primarily in the dark. They can also cause sores on the head. These sores can become infected with bacteria from the skin of the infected person. Lice are spread through head-to-head contact, which is common during sports, slumber parties, and play. Another common way to spread the infection is by sharing personal items. Pets, however, do not play a role in head-lice transmission.

Where Do Head Lice Lay Eggs?

Lice lay their eggs on the scalp. They are tiny at first but become visible after the second or third day. The eggs are oval in shape and are brown or tan in color. When removed, they will hatch into baby bugs that will die shortly after hatching. Adult lice live for about 35 days.

How and When Do Head Lice Feed?

Adult head lice must feed on blood several times per day to survive. They will lay eggs around the base of hair strands, where they will develop. They go through one molt before they begin their second and third cycles.

Where Do Head Lice Live?

Head lice are microscopic insects that live on the scalp. The eggs are round and oval and are laid on the scalp near the hair follicles. They hatch in six to nine days after attachment and can’t survive far away from the scalp. During the first week of infestation, the lice will look like nymphs, which are similar to adult head louse. The nymphs will then become adults within seven days, after which they will lay as many as ten eggs a day.