How Easy is Head Lice Spread?

Head lice are spread mainly through head-to-head contact. Less frequently, they can be spread through shared clothing and belongings. Lice live on human hair, and their eggs, known as nits, are attached to shed hair. Although the risk of catching a lice infestation from a louse’s eggs on your furniture or carpet is low, you should still take extra precautions.

The best way to prevent a lice infestation is to make sure you’re keeping your child’s hair and other personal items away from your children. It’s also important to keep in mind that head lice cannot survive away from a human head for longer than a day. This is why it’s important to avoid close contact, check for head lice, and treat the entire family. If you do suspect that your child has head lice, you’ll want to get them checked by a licensed professional immediately.

You can easily spot head lice by their characteristic itching. Itching can occur for weeks after an infestation, and it’s usually most prominent around the ears and the back of the neck. Fortunately, this can be avoided by regular checking and removing head lice as soon as they start to multiply and infest.

Head lice are not dangerous to humans, but they can be annoying and embarrassing. Thankfully, most infestations are treatable with over-the-counter medications. However, lice may be passed from one person to another by sharing hair bows or other items. If you suspect your child has head lice, treat them right away, otherwise they will stay around and spread the infection.