Where Do Head Lice Originate From?
WouterThe exact source of head lice is not known, but this pest has been around for thousands of years. In fact, nits have even been found on Egyptian mummies. The theory is that head lice evolved from body lice around 100,000 years ago. These parasites cannot survive without a human host, so they have to live off of human blood.
The adult female head louse is the one who lays the eggs. These eggs are oval in shape and hard to spot. They may look like dandruff or scabs. In the early stages, they are almost invisible, but as the infection progresses, the eggs grow bigger.
The exact origin of head lice is unknown, but it has been found that they are transmitted from person to person and from one piece of clothing to another. This is why hats and clothes stored on the same rack can be infested. In addition to clothing, infested hair brushes, bedding and towels can also spread the disease.
The best way to prevent the spread of head lice is to not share personal items with other people, and to treat all household members. Head-to-head contact is the worst for head lice, so be sure to treat everyone in your family. Make sure you keep personal items clean by washing in hot water with detergent. Children should also not share hats or stuffed animals with other children. If you have to share them, try to wash them in hot water and dry them in the dryer, preferably on the hot cycle. For items that cannot be washed, you can put them in a plastic bag for two weeks to kill lice. Soaking hairbrushes in hot water also helps.
