Head lice, or Pediculosis Humanus Capitis, are parasites that can be found on the head of those infected. There are several signs and symptoms that could indicate a head lice infestation. These include a tickling feeling or a sense of movement in the hair or itching due to an allergic reaction from the lice bites. Other signs could include sores on the head as a result from constant scratching, as well as irritability when accompanied by one of these other signs and symptoms.

Anyone who comes into close contact with a person with head lice, or those who have contaminated belongings, is at risk for getting head lice. Head lice infestation is fairly common, occurring in one in every ten school-aged child. Head lice are not transmitted by pets and they are unable to fly. They typically spread from person to person via head contact or contact with materials or furnishings that carry the parasites. This could be through towels, upholstered furniture, blankets, pillows, or clothing.

Lice drop their eggs very close to the base of the hair shafts on the scalp. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if lice eggs are found away from the scalp, they have already or will not hatch. This is why simply finding a nit on the head is not always a sign of a lice infestation. It’s best to attempt to find a moving louse, living in the hair. This can be done by first wetting the hair, then picking through it to examine the scalp with a fine-toothed comb.

It can be difficult to prevent the spread of lice from children when in a school setting. It’s best to ask your child to not share coats, combs, hats, brushes, scarves, or hair accessories with classmates. If all else fails, you may need to provide a hair lice treatment if your child becomes infected. Shampoos containing permethrin (Nix), or pyrethrin (Rid), are the first step to fighting off infestations. If the lice has become resistant to these over-the-counter lice treatments, prescription medications can be used, as well as physically removing the lice using a comb.

Head lice can reproduce very rapidly with an adult female having the ability to lay more than 60 eggs each month. The eggs, or nits, hatch within 7 days and then take another 7 to 10 days to mature into an adult louse. The adult lice reproduce and the life cycle begins again. It’s important to know what to look for when infected. A lice parasite will appear tan in color with 6 legs. Nits appear white and can be as small as a pinhead. Since head lice infestation typically occurs in children, much effort has been focused in schools and day cares to keep the parasites and nits out of contact with un-infected children.

• Official Head Lice Website: View current news article, find facts and photographs, product problems and adverse reactions, and educational resources on how to protect children from becoming infected.
• Kids Health: Parents can learn how to keep their kids safe from lice infestations by reading about the common signs and symptoms to look for, causes, home remedies, and treatments.
• Mayo Clinic: Find general information on various aspects of head lice, including a definition, symptoms, causes, risk factors, complications, tests and diagnoses, prevention, and treatment and medications.
• Health Promotion & Education: Learn about how lice parasites can spread from person-to-person and how lice can infest anyone, regardless of their personal hygiene, through these interesting head lice facts.
• How to Manage Pests: Find information on how to manage head lice, what to look for when searching for lice in the hair and on your home’s furnishings and belongings, as well as the typical life cycle of a lice parasite.
• Children Web MD: This topic overview on children’s health and lice presents pictures of what head, pubic, and body lice look like, what causes an infestation, and how they can be diagnosed and treated before spreading can occur.
• Family Doctor: Get answers to your lice-related questions, such as who is at risk for getting head lice, how can it be prevented, what are the signs and symptoms, and how can I treat an infestation?
• Head Lice Fact Sheet: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide a head lice fact sheet that outline that various components that one should know if they become infested by lice parasites.
• Managing Head Lice Safely: Here you will find images of what head lice and nit’s look like, as well as how to properly inspect the head and scalp for live lice, egg’s or bites using a fine-toothed or electric comb.
• Pediculosis: See the five stages of the life cycle of a lice parasite, starting with an egg, and moving to the 1^st nymph, 2^nd nymph, 3^rd nymph, and then an adult lice, as well as images of the infective and diagnostic stage in humans.