Head Lice Facts

Head Lice Facts

Head Lice Facts

What, exactly, are head lice? They are parasitic insects that live in the hair and scalp of humans. They can exist in three different forms: nits, nymphs and adults. Nits are the eggs of adult lice. Many times nits are mistaken for dandruff or maybe hairspray that has dried. Nits attach firmly to the hair shaft at an angle and take roughly one week to hatch. When nits hatch they turn into nymphs. These nymphs need a blood meal within 45 minutes to survive. Nymphs become adults in about 7 days after hatching. Once a nymph becomes an adult, they can live up to 30 days on a person's head. They need blood to survive and will die within 2 days without it.

Head lice is a relatively common condition, especially in younger children. Estimates show that roughly 6 to 12 million people worldwide are infested every year. Outbreaks generally occur in schools or other group settings. Anyone is at risk for becoming infested. Pre-school and elementary school children are infested most often, and for whatever reason, females of all ages become infested more often than males.

Contrary to popular belief, lice can infest anyone, regardless of personal hygiene. A person can get lice by coming into close contact with someone already infested. It is more common in children as they tend to come in closer contact with one another during play, on the school bus or during classroom activities. You can also get head lice by wearing infested clothing, using infested towels, brushes or combs or lying on a couch or pillow that has been contaminated. Lice are not spread to humans from any kind of animal and they cannot jump or fly.

One important thing to remember, lice are not dangerous and can be eliminated in a safe, effective manner if you know the correct method and treatment to use.

POST COMMENT

An Introduction of Yoga How To Increase Your Charisma The Six Degrees Of Insanity Uncovered Through Real Karate! Best Gift for Daddy! The Long March Veliki Brat Is The Best Factual TV Show in Serbia Best Step by Step Way to Sell Your Car Acai Max Detox Special Comments: 4 cycle of the most brutal years of their life's dream Macy destruction Wenger The Pitfalls Of Progressive Staking Wenger: Three Lions made by Lai Luni lack of collective collapse in England Lose Your Inhibitions In Bed With Him The essential guide to backpacking