How Often Do Head Lice Feed

It’s important to remember that head lice are a very contagious condition. The best way to prevent them is to not share personal items and avoid physical contact with someone who has them. Also, you should treat everyone in your household who has had contact with an infested person. Avoid sharing hats and stuffed animals with children, and wash all clothing and personal items in hot water and dry on the hot cycle. If you’re unable to wash items, you should put them in a plastic bag and keep them away from your child for two weeks. Another effective way to kill lice is to soak hairbrushes in hot water and dry them on a hot cycle.

The life cycle of head lice involves three stages. The first stage is the egg stage, which is difficult to detect. These tiny eggs resemble dandruff or a hair spray droplet. Lice lay their eggs at the base of the hair shaft closest to the scalp. The eggs are oval and about 0.8mm long. These eggs are viable for about a week after they hatch and remain attached to the hair for another four days.

Once the eggs have hatched, the lice will start feeding on the skin of your head. Unlike other insects that can crawl or jump, head lice are transmitted by direct head-to-head contact and by sharing personal items. They can be spread by sharing combs and items. Fortunately, head lice are easily treatable in the comfort of your own home. The best way to get rid of these bugs is to treat them right away.