How Long Do Head Lice Live Without a Host?

You may be wondering, “How long do head lice live without a host?” The short answer is about two to three days. These creatures live on the head of their human host, and they need to feed several times a day. Once they’ve found a human host, lice move onto their host’s head and use it as a source of blood. After two or three days, they will die, but they will still lay eggs. If you don’t want your child to be infected, you should remove the bedding and bed linens from your child’s bed.

Adult lice live for about 30 days, but they can only survive for one or two days away from the host. Adult lice lay 100 eggs in their lifetime, which hatch within four to 10 days. The eggs remain on the hair strand for up to nine days, and they’ll die when separated from their food source. Lice eggs are also known as nits, and they attach themselves to individual hair strands.

Once you discover that your child has head lice, it’s important to get rid of them as quickly as possible. You can treat the infestation with a variety of treatments, but these treatments usually won’t prevent the lice from coming back. You should make sure that your child’s bedding is thoroughly cleaned and that their clothing and other belongings aren’t infected with head lice.