How Does Head Lice Bite?
WouterThe head louse is a wingless insect that spends its entire life feeding on human blood. Only humans are known to host the head louse, although chimpanzees host another, closely related species. It is a common household pest. It can even be transmitted from human to human.
When head lice bite, they can leave itchy, red bumps on your head or neck. They may not be noticeable after one or two bites, but they will become visible after several days. You can treat lice by using a topical product containing permethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid.
When treated, the lice will usually die after a few weeks. However, lice treatments can dry your scalp, which makes it itchy. Many people who suffer from lice bites also suffer from psychosomatic itching. While lice do not live outside of the scalp, they can bite other parts of the body like the pubic area.
The best way to identify if a child has head lice is to examine their head and scalp using a fine-tooth comb. The comb should be held close to the scalp and the hair should be parted in small sections. This allows parents to see if moving lice are present. It is also important to look for eggs.
Adult head lice feed on human blood around five to six times a day. They use their mouth, or nit, as a suction cup, to get into the skin of the head and feed on the blood. Adult lice usually live on the scalp and behind the ears, but they can also be found in eyebrows and eyelashes.
