How Big Can Head Lice Be?

Head lice are small insects with six legs. They are typically grayish white or tan in color, but can be lighter or darker. These insects can attach themselves to human hair using their claws. Once attached, they can survive for up to 30 days. However, if they fall off, they die within one or two days.

Female head louses lay eggs on the scalp about 1.5 cm away. These eggs need warmth to hatch. The adult louse can live for up to 30 days on the human head. They are easy to spread by direct head-to-head contact, but can also be transmitted through sharing of personal items.

If you suspect that your child has head lice, the first step is to contact a health official. You can also visit a school nurse, who can administer a treatment if needed. In addition, it’s important to tell the school and teacher about your child’s head lice problem. It’s also helpful to ask the teacher or principal if there are other children in class with the same infestation. They might have picked up the lice from another source and spread them to their classmates. In addition, the school may send letters home to affected families to let them know about the problem.

Fortunately, head lice do not cause any permanent damage. Most infestations are asymptomatic, with only 10 or less live lice in a healthy child. In severe cases, the scalp may become excoriated with an itchy rash. In addition to being itchy, head lice are not known to transmit other diseases or agents.