What are head lice? Head lice are not a disease! Contrary to popular opinion, head lice are not a disease! Like mosquito’s, head lice are insects that live off of blood. And like a mosquito bite, head lice also itch. Head lice occur frequently and are quite common. They do not make you sick, they are not harmful and you can get rid of them. At the very most, having those little ceatures in your hair is an unpleasant and uncomfortable idea. Once again, head lice are not a disease. Let’s talk about head lice Head lice are very small insects that attach themselves tightly to the hair follicles. They only occur on humans and feed on human blood. Head lice can grow to a maximum length of approximately 3 mm. Mature lice lay 6 to 8 eggs a day. These eggs are known as nits. The nits are attached to the hair shafts and prefer a warm location close to the scalp such as behind the ears, in the neck or under a ponytail. Nits are a light white gray color and are approximately 1 mm long. They are very difficult to detach from the hair. Nits hatch after one week and then the whole cycle starts all over again. Without any food the lice can only survive for a day or two. However, the nits can survive and hatch without a human host for up to approximately six days! Where do head lice come from? The causes of head lice are still uncertain. We do know however that head lice occur increasingly among children at primary school (3 to 12 years old) the whole year around. Head lice have nothing to do with bad hygiene; in fact, the cleaner the scalp, the more attractive for head lice. Head lice are extremely infectious and are transferred through direct contact, as they cannot jump, fly or swim. Head lice are real opportunists. The real facts on head lice
In all western countries head lice increasingly occur in children between 3 and 12 years old. After primary school head lice occur very rarely. Head lice are not a disease. They are completely harmless and you don’t have to be ashamed if an infestation occurs But it is an unpleasant experience to have crawling and itching insects living in your hair. Head lice have nothing to do with bad hygiene. The cleaner the scalp, the more attractive to head lice. The higher the temperature, the more likely that head lice will occur. Kids with thick hair are more attractive to head lice. When swimming or regularly washing your hair the head lice remain where they are; they stick to the hair, close to the scalp. Head lice are extremely infectious. Physical contact between children at school, within a family and even with parents or teachers easily result in a transfer of head lice. Head lice are cross walkers. They easily walk from head to head or via a comb, clothes or pillows. But head lice can not swim, fly or jump.