Head lice are found primarily in children of every socioeconomic class.  Adults are not immune to catching head lice; although it is not that common in adults.  Head lice are very contagious and early detection of infestation and diligent and appropriate treatment should eradicate the infestation of head lice in a relatively short period of time.

Adult Head Lice (CDC Photo)

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports that 6 – 12 million people in the U.S. are infected with lice each year.  Children in the age group of 3 – 10 years of age that are in preschool, elementary school and day-care centers are the most likely to contract head lice.  Girls are more commonly infected than boys, however hair length or personal hygiene are not predictive indicators.

Head lice, also know as (Pediculus humanus capitis) number in the millions of cases worldwide each year.  Sometimes lice can cause more significant illnesses such as typhus, relapsing fever and trench fever, however more frequently lice are an itchy and embarrassing condition.  It should be noted that “body lice (Pediculus humanus corposis)” and “head lice” are two (2) different organisms.  Each of these species are parasitic in nature. There is a third type of lice known as “crabs” which infect the pubic area of people.  These crabs are known as (Pthirus pubis) and are transmitted through intimate or sexual contact.  It should also be noted that each type of lice does not tend to cross over to other areas of the body.

Head lice are common only to humans and are not carried by animals.  Head lice are however capable of being transmitted from one person to another via person to person contact and by inanimate objects such as combs, caps or bed sheets.

Head lice are grey-white animals that are about 2-3 millimeters long, similar to the size of a sesame seed.  During the one month life span of a female louse she can produce approximately 7 to 10 eggs (nits) per day.  These eggs are usually attached to the shaft of the hair close to the scalp of the infected person.  The attachment of the lice to human hair is aided in their attachment by a glue-like substance that is not water soluble.  Hence, the difficulty one experiences in trying to wash them out of a person’s hair with regular shampoo.  After a period of approximately 10 days the nits hatch and grow into adults in about another ten days.  So every 20 days a new family of lice can breed in your hair.

To help break the lice breeding cycle or prevent a lice infestation try Zippity Doo’s Lice Prevention products.