How Long Have You Had Head Lice?

It can be difficult to determine exactly how long you’ve had head lice. But knowing the life cycle of lice can help you determine the stage of the infestation. Most infestations are first noticed about 30 days after the nymphs reach maturity. Using a flashlight, you can check your hair and count the number of lice and their nits. The more nits there are, the longer the infestation has been going on.

While knowing how long you’ve had head lice doesn’t directly affect your treatment, knowing this information can help you prevent future infestations. Knowing where you were infected will also help you prevent further infestations by educating others. For example, if you’ve shared a pillowcase with someone who has head lice, it’s wise to wash that pillowcase as soon as possible.

Head lice are tiny parasitic insects that live on the scalp. They don’t jump or hop, but they are easy to spread from one person to another by close contact. Head lice often live in the scalp and behind the ears, but can also live on the eyebrows and eyelashes.

While live lice are rarely found immediately after an infestation, some people may find them early. During the early stages of an infestation, you may not experience any symptoms such as itching or other signs of head lice. You may not even realize you have them until they have spread to a moderate or severe infestation.