How did my child get lice

CDC - Lice - Head Lice - General Information

What are head lice?
Who is at risk for getting head lice?
What do head lice look like?
Where are head lice commonly found?
What are the signs and symptoms of head lice infestation?
How did my child get head lice?
How is a head lice infestation diagnosed?
How is a head lice infestation treated?
Is infestation with head lice reportable to health departments?
I don’t like my school’s head lice policy, can CDC do something?
Do head lice spread disease?
Can head lice be spread by sharing sports helmets and headphones?
Can wigs or hair pieces spread lice?
Can swimming spread lice?

What are head lice?

The head louse, or Pediculus humanus capitis, is a parasitic insect that can be found on the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes of people. Head lice feed on human blood several times a day and live close to the human scalp. Head lice are not known to spread disease.

Who is at risk for getting head lice?

Head lice are found worldwide. In the United States, infestation with head lice is most common among pre-school children attending child care, elementary schoolchildren, and the household members of infested children. Although reliable data on how many people in the United States get head lice each year are not available, an estimated 6 million to 12 million infestations occur each year in the United States among children 3 to 11 years of age. In the United States, infestation with head lice is much less common among African-Americans than among persons of other races, possibly because the claws of the head louse found most frequently in the United States are better adapted for grasping the shape and width of the hair shaft of other races.

Head lice move by crawling; they cannot hop or fly. Head lice are spread by direct contact with the hair of an infested person. Anyone who comes in head-to-head contact with someone who already has head lice is at greatest risk. Spread by contact with clothing (such as hats, scarves, coats) or other personal items (such as combs, brushes, or towels) used by an infested person is uncommon. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.

What do head lice look like?

Head lice have three forms: the egg (also called a nit), the nymph, and the adult.

Actual size of the three lice forms compared to a penny. (CDC Photo)

Illustration of egg on a hair shaft. (CDC Photo)

Egg/Nit: Nits are lice eggs laid by the adult female head louse at the base of the hair shaft nearest the scalp. Nits are firmly attached to the hair shaft and are oval-shaped and very small (about the size of a knot in thread) and hard to see. Nits often appear yellow or white although live nits sometimes appear to be the same color as the hair of the infested person. Nits are often confused with dandruff, scabs, or hair spray droplets. Head lice nits usually take about 8–9 days to hatch. Eggs that are likely to hatch are usually located no more than ¼ inch from the base of the hair shaft. Nits located further than ¼ inch from the base of hair shaft may very well be already hatched, non-viable nits, or empty nits or casings. This is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye.

Nymph form. (CDC Photo)

Nymph: A nymph is an immature louse that hatches from the nit. A nymph looks like an adult head louse, but is smaller. To live, a nymph must feed on blood. Nymphs mature into adults about 9–12 days after hatching from the nit.

Adult louse. (CDC Photo)

Adult: The fully grown and developed adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has six legs, and is tan to grayish-white in color. Adult head lice may look darker in persons with dark hair than in persons with light hair. To survive, adult head lice must feed on blood. An adult head louse can live about 30 days on a person’s head but will die within one or two days if it falls off a person. Adult female head lice are usually larger than males and can lay about six eggs each day.

Adult louse claws. (CDC Photo)

Where are head lice most commonly found?

Head lice and head lice nits are found almost exclusively on the scalp, particularly around and behind the ears and near the neckline at the back of the head. Head lice or head lice nits sometimes are found on the eyelashes or eyebrows but this is uncommon. Head lice hold tightly to hair with hook-like claws at the end of each of their six legs. Head lice nits are cemented firmly to the hair shaft and can be difficult to remove even after the nymphs hatch and empty casings remain.

What are the signs and symptoms of head lice infestation?

Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair.
Itching, caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the head louse.
Irritability and difficulty sleeping; head lice are most active in the dark.
Sores on the head caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with bacteria found on the person’s skin.

How did my child get head lice?

Head-to-head contact with an already infested person is the most common way to get head lice. Head-to-head contact is common during play at school, at home, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp).

Although uncommon, head lice can be spread by sharing clothing or belongings. This happens when lice crawl, or nits attached to shed hair hatch, and get on the shared clothing or belongings. Examples include:

sharing clothing (hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms) or articles (hair ribbons, barrettes, combs, brushes, towels, stuffed animals) recently worn or used by an infested person;
or lying on a bed, couch, pillow, or carpet that has recently been in contact with an infested person.

Dogs, cats, and other pets do not play a role in the spread of head lice.

How is head lice infestation diagnosed?

The diagnosis of a head lice infestation is best made by finding a live nymph or adult louse on the scalp or hair of a person. Because nymphs and adult lice are very small, move quickly, and avoid light, they can be difficult to find. Use of a magnifying lens and a fine-toothed comb may be helpful to find live lice. If crawling lice are not seen, finding nits firmly attached within a ¼ inch of base of the hair shafts strongly suggests, but does not confirm, that a person is infested and should be treated. Nits that are attached more than ¼ inch from the base of the hair shaft are almost always dead or already hatched. Nits are often confused with other things found in the hair such as dandruff, hair spray droplets, and dirt particles. If no live nymphs or adult lice are seen, and the only nits found are more than ¼-inch from the scalp, the infestation is probably old and no longer active and does not need to be treated.

If you are not sure if a person has head lice, the diagnosis should be made by their health care provider, local health department, or other person trained to identify live head lice.

How is head lice infestation treated?

More on: Treatment

Is infestation with head lice reportable to health departments?

Most health departments do not require reporting of head lice infestation. However, it may be beneficial for the sake of others to share information with school nurses, parents of classmates, and others about contact with head lice.

I don’t like my school’s “no-nit” policy; can CDC do something?

No. CDC is not a regulatory agency. School head lice policies often are determined by local school boards. Local health departments may have guidelines that address school head lice policies; check with your local and state health departments to see if they have such recommendations.

More on: Head Lice Information for Schools

Do head lice spread disease?

Head lice should not be considered as a medical or public health hazard. Head lice are not known to spread disease. Head lice can be an annoyance because their presence may cause itching and loss of sleep. Sometimes the itching can lead to excessive scratching that can sometimes increase the chance of a secondary skin infection.

Can head lice be spread by sharing sports helmets or headphones?

Head lice are spread most commonly by direct contact with the hair of an infested person. Spread by contact with inanimate objects and personal belongings may occur but is very uncommon. Head lice feet are specially adapted for holding onto human hair. Head lice would have difficulty attaching firmly to smooth or slippery surfaces like plastic, metal, polished synthetic leathers, and other similar materials.

Can wigs or hair pieces spread lice?

Head lice and their eggs (nits) soon perish if separated from their human host. Adult head lice can live only a day or so off the human head without blood for feeding. Nymphs (young head lice) can live only for several hours without feeding on a human. Nits (head lice eggs) generally die within a week away from their human host and cannot hatch at a temperature lower than that close to the human scalp. For these reasons, the risk of transmission of head lice from a wig or other hairpiece is extremely small, particularly if the wig or hairpiece has not been worn within the preceding 48 hours by someone who is actively infested with live head lice.

Can swimming spread lice?

Data show that head lice can survive under water for several hours but are unlikely to be spread by the water in a swimming pool. Head lice have been seen to hold tightly to human hair and not let go when submerged under water. Chlorine levels found in pool water do not kill head lice.

Head lice may be spread by sharing towels or other items that have been in contact with an infested person’s hair, although such spread is uncommon. Children should be taught not to share towels, hair brushes, and similar items either at poolside or in the changing room.

Swimming or washing the hair within 1–2 days after treatment with some head lice medicines might make some treatments less effective. Seek the advice of your health care provider or health department if you have questions.

This information is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any questions about the parasites described above or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.

Head Lice (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth

What Are Head Lice?

Head lice are tiny wingless insects. They live among human hairs and feed on blood from the scalp.

Head lice are a common problem, especially for kids. They spread easily from person to person, and sometimes are tough to get rid of. Their bites can make a child's scalp itchy and irritated, and scratching can lead to infection.

Head lice are annoying, but they're not dangerous and they don't spread disease. They're not a sign of poor hygiene — head lice need blood and they don't care whether it's from someone who's clean or dirty.

It's best to treat head lice right away to prevent them from spreading.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Head Lice?

Even though they're tiny, you can see head lice. Here's what to look for:

Lice eggs (nits). These look like tiny yellow, tan, or brown dots before they hatch. Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch. Nits look a bit like dandruff, but aren't removed by brushing or shaking them off.
Unless a child has many head lice, it's more common to see nits in the hair than live lice crawling on the scalp. Lice eggs hatch 1–2 weeks after they're laid. After hatching, the remaining shell looks white or clear and stays attached to the hair shaft. This is when it's easiest to spot them, as the hair is growing longer and the egg shell is moving away from the scalp.

Adult lice and nymphs (baby lice). Adult lice are no bigger than a sesame seed and are grayish-white or tan. Nymphs are smaller and become adult lice about 1–2 weeks after they hatch. This life cycle repeats itself about every 3 weeks. Most lice feed on blood several times a day, and they can survive up to 2 days off the scalp.
Scratching. With lice bites come itching and scratching. This is due to a reaction to the saliva (spit) of lice. But the itching doesn't always start right away. It depends on how sensitive a child's skin is to the lice. It might take weeks for kids with lice to start scratching. They may complain, though, of things tickling or moving around on their heads.
Small red bumps or sores from scratching. Some kids have mild irritation from scratching, while others may get a bothersome rash. Scratching a lot can lead to a bacterial infection. Watch for swollen lymph nodes (glands) on the back or front of the neck, and red, tender skin that might have crusting and oozing. Doctors can treat a skin infection with an antibiotic.

How Can I Check My Child for Head Lice?

Look for lice and nits on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the nape of the neck. It's rare for lice to be in eyelashes or eyebrows.

It can be tough to find a nymph or adult louse. Usually, there aren't many of them and they move fast. Look for nits attached to the hair near the scalp. They can look like dandruff or dirt. To tell them apart, pull on the little speck with your fingers — dandruff and dirt can be removed, but nits stay stuck. A magnifying glass and a bright light can help with your inspection.

The best way to check is by using a fine-tooth comb on wet hair. After applying lots of conditioner, comb the hair out in very small sections, and look for lice or nits on the comb. You can wipe the comb onto a tissue or paper towel where it will be easier to see them.

If your child is itchy and scratching their head but you're not sure if it's lice, ask your child's doctor or the nurse at school or childcare center to take a look.

How Are Head Lice Treated?

The two main ways to treat lice are:

medicine
removing by hand

Medicine: Medicated shampoos, cream rinses, and lotions are available that kill lice. These may be over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicines. If you buy OTC, be sure it's safe for your child's age. While some over-the-counter shampoos are safe for kids as young as 2 months, others are safe only for kids 2 years and older.

In some areas, lice have developed resistance to some medicines. This means they no longer work to kill the lice. Ask your doctor or a pharmacist to recommend a medicine known to work in your area. The doctor also can prescribe a medicated shampoo or lotion. For very resistant lice, the doctor might recommend taking medicine by mouth.

Whether the medicine is OTC or prescription, always follow the directions closely. Applying too much can be harmful. Applying too little won't work.

Removing by hand: Removing lice and nits by hand can finish the job if the medicine did not completely rid your child of lice (no medicine is 100% effective). It is also an option for anyone who doesn't want to use an insecticide. And it is the only option for children 2 months old or younger, who should not use medicated lice treatment.

To do this, use a fine-tooth comb on wet, conditioned hair every 3–4 days for 3 weeks after the last live louse was seen. Wetting the hair temporarily stops the lice from moving, and the conditioner makes it easier to get a comb through the hair.

There's no need to buy electronic combs that claim to kill lice or make nits easier to remove. No studies have been done to back up these claims. You also don't need to buy special vinegar solutions to apply to the scalp before picking nits. Water and conditioner works fine.

Though petroleum jelly, mayonnaise, or olive oil are sometimes used to try to suffocate head lice, these treatments may not work. If medicine doesn't work and you want to try these methods, talk to your doctor first.

A few important things to NOT do: Don't use a hairdryer after applying scalp treatments. Some treatments for lice use flammable ingredients and can catch on fire. Don't use pesticide sprays or hire a pest control company to try to get rid of the lice; these can be harmful. Don't use essential oils (such as ylang ylang oil or tea tree oil) to treat lice on the scalp. They can cause allergic skin reactions and aren't approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Don't ever use highly flammable chemicals such as gasoline or kerosene on anyone.

Are Head Lice Contagious?

Head lice spread quickly from person to person, especially in group settings like schools, childcare centers, slumber parties, sports activities, and camps.

They can't fly or jump, but they have claws that let them crawl and cling to hair. They spread through head-to-head contact, and sharing clothing, bed linens, combs, brushes, and hats.

Pets can't catch head lice and pass them on to people or the other way around.

Do Kids Have to Stay Home From School?

In the past, kids with head lice were kept home from school. But now doctors don't recommend these "no-nit" policies. In most cases, a child who has lice should stay at school until the end of the day, go home and get treatment, and return to school the next day. While they are at school, kids should avoid head-to-head contact with other kids. It can help to put long hair up in a bun, braid, or ponytail.

Can We Prevent Head Lice?

To get rid of head lice and their eggs, and to help prevent them from coming back:

Wash all bed linens, stuffed animals, and clothing used during the 2 days before treatment (any lice that fell off before that will not be alive). Wash in very hot water (130°F [54.4°C]), then put them in the hot cycle of the dryer for at least 20 minutes.
Dry clean items that can't be washed. Or put them in airtight bags for 2 weeks.
Vacuum carpets and any upholstered furniture (in your home or car), and throw away the vacuum cleaner bag.
Soak hair-care items like combs, barrettes, hair ties or bands, headbands, and brushes in hot water or throw them away. Tell kids not to share these items.
Because lice easily pass from person to person in the same house, check all family members. Treat everyone who has lice so they won't pass it back and forth.
Tell kids to try to avoid head-to-head contact at school (in gym, on the playground, or during sports) and while playing at home with other children.
Every 3 or 4 days, check kids who had close contact with a person who has lice. Then, treat any who have lice or nits close to the scalp.

Will They Ever Be Gone?

As many parents know, fighting head lice can be an ongoing battle. There's no doubt that they can be hard bugs to get rid of.

If you've tried everything and your child still has lice, it could be because:

some nits were left behind (if you see nits far from the scalp — more than ½ inch (1 cm) — and no live lice, these are probably dead and treatment likely isn't needed)
your child is still around someone who has lice
the treatment you're using isn't effective

If your child has lice 2 weeks after you started treatment or if your child's scalp looks infected, call your doctor.

There are professional lice treatment centers that remove lice and nits for a fee. These services are effective but often costly.

Looking Ahead

Remind your child that while having lice can be embarrassing, anyone can get them. Having head lice is not a sign of dirtiness or poor hygiene. The pesky little bugs can be a problem no matter how often kids do — or don't — wash their hair or bathe.

Dealing with head lice can be frustrating, but be patient. Follow the treatments and prevention tips from your doctor, and soon your family will be lice-free.

Head lice in children: causes, complications

Lice in children is a fairly common phenomenon. Pediculosis on the head is most common in children under the age of 14 years. Getting rid of these parasites is quite problematic.

What a louse looks like

The disease is caused by head lice. Their size does not exceed 4 millimeters. Parasites have adapted to living on the human body. Insects have 6 claws, with which they hold tightly to the hair. Parasites do not know how to jump, they only crawl. Therefore, the myth that infection occurs by jumping lice is implausible. Insects live and breed on the scalp, no more than 6 millimeters of hair length. Places of localization are the occipital part of the head closer to the neck, behind the ears.

Female lice firmly attach nits to hair roots. The larvae are round, white droplets. They are often confused with dandruff. However, dandruff can be shaken off, while nits are firmly attached to the hair. Nits hatch on the 8-9th day. In 9-12 days they reach the size of an adult insect. They live for about a month. During this time, the female louse can lay up to 400 eggs. If the parasite fell from the head, it quickly dies.

Where do lice come from in children

Lice on the head of a child appear as a result of direct contact with an infected person. Causes of pediculosis:

through combs, towels, hats, panama hats, hair ties;
through headrests in public transport;
through bedding.

Predisposing factors for lice are low immunity, frequent stress.

Important! Lice most often “choose” clean heads. This is due to the fact that it is very difficult to bite through the skin on dirty, greasy hair.

Symptoms of pediculosis

Lice in the hair provoke a large number of unpleasant sensations. Since they are active mainly at night, children experience the greatest discomfort at night.

Clinical signs of head lice are:

Symptom	Description
Itching	Most noticeable in places of localization of parasites: behind the ears, on the back of the head, temples, neck. This is due to the fact that in these areas the body temperature is slightly higher. Itching is a natural reaction to insect bites and their saliva. appears a week after infection
Presence of parasites	They are visible to the naked eye in large crowds. There is a feeling that something is moving in the hair
nits	Reminds me of sesame seeds. Attached to hair.
mats	They are a glued mass of hair, in which there are parasites, nits, crusts, skin flakes. Occurs in advanced cases
Tramp skin	Pigmentation, thickening of the skin, peeling, erosion

Pediculitis can sometimes appear. They look like rashes away from the lesion. Reminds me of an allergy rash. Appears as a result of autosensitization. If you find any of the above symptoms in your child, please contact our doctors for advice. Remotely, our doctors will talk about the disease, methods of dealing with parasites, and advise on how to properly care for your hair.

Parasite classification

There are three types of insects, each of which lives in certain conditions:

head. This species is not transmitted to or from animals;
clothes. The parasite lives in bed linen, clothes. on the skin moves only for nutrition. After their bite, small spots remain on the skin, in the center of which are hemorrhages;
pubic. Appear in children in cases of early onset of sexual activity. Lice can be recognized by the itching of the pubis. Less commonly appear armpits, eyebrows, eyelashes. This happens only in cases of severe lice.

Example

Parents with a daughter of 7 years old rested in the village in the summer. After returning to the city, they noticed that the girl often scratches her head, complains of itching and sensations of stirring in her hair. After examining the child, the parents found a large number of parasites and nits on the hair. The girl's father did not have any insects. Mom - the initial stage of infection (itching in the occipital region, few parasites, there are nits). For treatment, special detergents were purchased. After processing, they were combed out daily, nits were removed manually. On examination after treatment, doctors found eggs of parasites. School attendance was banned until full recovery. After repeated therapy, no nits were found on examination. The child was given a certificate and admission to school.

Complications of pediculosis

Often the disease is complicated by the layering of a secondary infection. It can be pyogenic streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. The reasons for the appearance is the constant scratching of the skin. Purulent processes may develop in the form of lymphangitis, phlegmon, bacteremia.

If the ciliary edge is affected, then blepharoconjunctivitis develops.

There are cases when, after complete recovery, neurosis is noted in children. It is characterized by obsessive ideas about the presence of insects: the child combs his head, it seems to him that someone is moving in his hair. On examination, the scalp is clean, without signs of insects.

Very often, with pediculosis, the child becomes asocial. There is false shame. The kid closes in on himself. To help your child cope with stress, contact our doctors. They will remotely tell you how to help the child adapt in this situation, suggest shampoos to eliminate parasites, and will be in touch at any time of the day.

Diagnosis of disease

Pediculosis in a child is diagnosed:

on the basis of complaints;
assessment of the epidemiological state;
visual inspection: detection of nits in a child, sexually mature individuals;
inspection with a Wood's lamp: live nits glow, dead ones do not;
dermatoscopy to evaluate live eggs and dead ones;
microscopy, bakposev to detect secondary infection.

Important! Pubic lice in underage children may be a sign of abuse. Since they appear as a result of sexual contact with an infected person.

Pediculosis treatment

Therapy is aimed at eliminating the parasite at all stages of its development. You need to fight lice in three ways at once:

mechanical. In this case, you can get rid of lice if the number of parasites is small. To do this, use a special comb with metal, frequent teeth. before combing the head, it is necessary to wet the hair. To avoid tangles, you can use a hair conditioner. The comb is positioned so that it touches the skin tightly. Comb each strand carefully. Carefully inspect the comb and remove parasites. after the procedure, the comb is washed under hot water, treated with alcohol. To get rid of lice in a child in this way, you need to carry out the procedure at least twice a day;
physical. You can remove lice from a child in this way under the influence of high, low temperatures. All the baby's hats are carefully washed, followed by ironing them;
medical. In this case, pediculosis remedies are used: lotions, shampoos, emulsions, soaps, aerosols.

In cases of infection, the disease is treated:

local antiseptics are used that dry the skin;
systemic and local antibiotic therapy is prescribed by a doctor according to indications;
oral preparations are used extremely rarely.

Treating at home with folk remedies is not worth it, as it is not an effective method.

It is necessary to boil every day, wash the baby's personal hygiene products. Do not dry your hair with a hairdryer, as the louse can be in the air and get on another person.

The easiest way to deal with lice is to cut on the bald head. This option is more suitable for boys. If you have any doubts about the choice of drugs, call our doctors. Remotely, they will talk about possible therapy options, explain how to treat the premises and personal items.

Lice prevention

Methods for the prevention of pediculosis are simple:

it is necessary to ensure that children do not use other people's combs and do not give their own, do not try on other people's hats;
examine the child's head, monitor the first signs of the disease;
every day to braid girls' hair in braids, since with loose hair it is much faster to get infected.

If lice are found on the head of a child, then preventive measures will be:

baby in isolation. Such children are dropped out of kindergartens, schools until full recovery;
exclusion of contact with other children;
after recovery, it is necessary to be observed by specialists for another month;
if nits are found in a child, an examination is carried out for all family members.

FAQ

What to do if lice appear in the head of a child and how to remove them?

First you need to verify the presence of lice by inspection. Then special funds are bought in pharmacies. You need to process the scalp and all hair. Then the parasites are combed out with a special comb. Cure quickly and immediately will not work. You need to be prepared that the process is long.

Why do lice get in my head?

Appear due to prolonged stress, reduced immunity, upon contact with the patient. The information that they fly or jump from person to person is lonaya. These insects can only crawl quickly.

How long can parasites live outside of a person?

A body louse lives outside a person for up to 3 days. At low temperatures - up to a week. The head louse dies after 24 hours. Parasites are removed for a long time. To find out how to treat the room and the patient himself, you need to consult a doctor. He will pick up all the necessary medicines.

What are head lice afraid of?

If lice appear, you need to understand that they are not afraid of hot air, water, ordinary shampoos, oils. Treatment of head lice in a child consists only in the use of special means. Without them, it will not be possible to remove insects.

Expert opinion

Pediculosis is a common disease. Caused by lice that live in the scalp of children. Cause severe itching, which worsens at night. Insects can be transmitted by contact from an infected person to a healthy one. Treatment consists in the destruction of the parasite at all stages of its development. The process is quite lengthy. In this case, the child must be isolated from other children. This will help prevent the spread of lice.

We publish only verified information

Article author

Pruzhinin Mark Yulievich pediatrician

Experience 30 years

Consultations 1572

Articles 104

An experienced pediatrician with extensive experience and clinical experience in various medical organizations in the field of general pediatrics, resuscitation and anesthesology and neuroinfection. Works with leading experts, attends international and Russian conferences.

Pediculosis - Official website of the Administration of St. Petersburg

Pediculosis – human skin lesions caused by lice parasites .

Methods of transmission of head lice

Source of lice infestation - a person who is parasitized by lice, regardless of the degree of lice.

Contact path - close contact with a person suffering from pediculosis, in which lice crawl onto the hair, body or things of a healthy person, accidental (or special) shaking of parasites from the old host to the new one is possible. Head lice are very easy to get.

Transmission through care items: towels, combs, washcloths; hairpins, rubber bands; underwear, hats (including hoods), scarves; pillows, mattresses and others. After using household items, people with pediculosis can retain lice for some time, which, with close contact, crawl onto a new host. In objects and things, nits can also ripen, which eventually turn into adults. Most often, clothes lice are transferred through underwear, head lice through hats, and pubic lice through underwear.

Sexual transmission is the main route of infection for pubic lice. With close contact of the pubic areas, the flatworms crawl onto a new host

Through the water - in places of mass bathing of people (beaches of rivers, lakes, seas, pools). In water, lice can live for about 2 days, so when bathing, it is quite possible for lice to get on a new host. Also, lice can crawl out of the sand, on the beach, from the sandbox.

After getting on a new host, lice move to their favorite, easily accessible places for parasitism. Depending on the stage of their life cycle (larva or adult), immediately or after maturation, they begin to lay nits and multiply. Each adult lays eggs every day throughout life: head louse - up to 4 pieces per day, body louse - up to 16 pieces, pubic louse - up to 3 pieces.

Each female louse gives birth during her adult existence from several tens to two hundred offspring. So, "sedentary" of a new host, lice are quickly ready to spread to others.

Head and body lice spread most rapidly in crowded places (children's groups, public transport, hostels, communes, barracks, prisons, and so on). And also in places with unsanitary conditions, where they do not take care of the body, things and care items (habitats for homeless people, antisocial families, places of detention, shelters, places where there is no free access to water).
Human lice (head and body lice) spread most rapidly.

In places where pediculosis was detected in at least one person, it is called an epidemic focus.

Pediculosis epidemic is the spread of pediculosis, which exceeds by several times the incidence characteristic of a certain region and season. The epidemic threshold of pediculosis for each region or country is different.

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