The ABCs Of Head Lice Your Diet Guide

The ABCs Of Head Lice

Posted by Taylah Degotardi 28 Jun, 2011

DID YOU KNOW?

Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp. They can be spread by close contact with other people. These lice only live in hair and occasionally reside in eyebrows and eyelashes. Head lice infection is very common. It has been estimated that up to one in every 10 children in school acquires head lice at some time. In one study, the estimated annual cost of head lice infestations in the United States was nearly $1 billion.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR?

Lice come in these three forms:

Nit: Nits are lice eggs. They are hard to see and may be mistaken for dandruff. Nits are oval and usually yellow or white. They take about a week to hatch.

Nymph: Once the nit hatches into a baby louse it is called a nymph. Nymphs mature into adults about seven days after hatching. Nymphs must feed on blood to hatch.

Adult: The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has six legs, and may range in color from tan to grayish-white. Adult lice can live up to 30 days on a person’s head. To live, adult lice need to feed on blood. If the louse falls off a persons head, it dies within 48 hours.

WAYS LICE CAN SPREAD:

Contact with an already infested person.

Wearing infested clothing, such as hats, scarves, sports uniforms, or hair ribbons

Using infested combs, brushes, or towels

Lying on a bed, couch, pillow, carpet, or stuffed animal that has recently been in contact with a person with lice

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