How Do Head Lice Drink Your Blood?

How do head lice drink blood? Researchers conducted a study of the blood-sucking ability of lice and found that an average infestation of lice saps 0.008 milliliters of blood per day. That’s less than a teaspoon full, and it’s enough to cause serious health issues. However, if your infestation is chronic, with thousands of lice, the amount of blood they’re sucking from you may be much higher.

Unlike their name, head lice do not eat your scalp or hair. Instead, they rely on your blood to survive. Lice use their mouthparts to puncture your skin, and they then use their sharp teeth to extract your blood. Adult lice can eat up to 50 times a day.

Lice can infest anyone and spread easily. You can catch the disease from your child or even another person’s head. Changing pillowcases can be effective, as long as your child doesn’t share your bed with infested people. Make sure you wash your pillowcases thoroughly in hot water and then dry them in a hot clothes dryer.

Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp and are highly contagious. They usually stay near the scalp, behind the ears, and on eyelashes. You may also notice their presence on your eyelashes or eyebrows. Lice don’t carry bacterial diseases, but they’re not very pleasant to have around. Fortunately, there are medications and nonprescription solutions to treat head lice. However, some people also use home remedies. These remedies have little clinical evidence that they’re effective.