Is it Easy to Catch Head Lice?

Head lice are not dangerous or life threatening. While they may cause intense itching, they are not contagious and carry no diseases. You should not be concerned that you have them if you keep your head clean and avoid sharing your hair accessories. You should also be aware of the signs of infestation and how to get rid of it.

If your child has a head lice outbreak, it is important to treat the infected person as quickly as possible. It’s also important to keep your child away from other people with lice and try to avoid head-to-head contact. In addition to treating your child, you should check other members of the household for head lice. If they have been in close contact with someone who has the disease, you may need to treat your entire family.

The first step in treating your child for head lice is to find out how the parasite reproduces. Female louse eggs lay up to eight eggs daily and are attached to hair fibers less than one-half inch (2.5 millimeters) from the scalp. The eggs hatch after six to nine days and take about three to four weeks to mature. The lice are unable to jump or fly. They only move by crawling. People typically catch head lice through direct head-to-head contact. The infection is more common in children and their families.

If you suspect your child has head lice, you should wash everything that came in contact with their head. You should also treat their clothing and bedding. This is not a cure-all, but it will kill the lice and prevent them from spreading to other people.