How Often Do Head Lice Bite?

Most people don’t realize how often head lice bite. The bites are hidden under hair, but you can sometimes see them around the ears and on the nape of the neck. The lice can cause severe itching if you’re allergic to their saliva, so it’s essential to remove them as soon as possible. You can treat lice with pyrethrins, which are naturally occurring pyrethroid extracts found in the chrysanthemum flower.

An adult head louse feeds five to six times a day. An infestation can easily reach 50 to 100 lice, if left untreated. Female lice lay eggs up to six per day, and the eggs hatch within 7 days. If you’re unsure of whether you have head lice or not, you should seek medical advice.

Head lice are spread through close contact with an infected person, as well as through sharing clothing or other items worn around the head. Lice can survive up to six hours off of the scalp, so it’s important to wash clothing and hair often. Also, try to avoid sharing personal items or storing them in public places. Keep your clothing and personal items in your own home.

Lice spread most frequently via direct head-to-head contact. However, they can also be spread through the sharing of personal items. While it’s rare to get head lice from clothing or furniture, the chances are slim. Keeping your clothing and hair away from infected people is the best way to prevent a head lice outbreak.