Head lice

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Head lice	Head louse, male	Head louse emerging from egg	Head louse - female
Head louse infestation - scalp	Lice, head - nits in the hair with close-up	Nit on human hair

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 eyebrows and eyelashes.

See also:

Body lice  

Pubic lice

Lice - head; Nits; Pediculosis capitis - head lice

Head lice infect hair on the head. They are easiest to see on the neck and over the ears. Tiny eggs on the hair look like flakes of dandruff. However, instead of flaking off the scalp, they stay put.

Head lice can survive up to 30 days on a human. Their eggs can live for more than 2 weeks.

Head lice spread easily. You can get head lice when you come in close contact with an infested person or touch their clothing or bedding. Head lice are more common in close, overcrowded living conditions. Lice spread easily among school children.

Having head lice is NOT an indicator of poor hygiene or low social status.

Head lice causes intense itching, but does not lead to a serious medical problem. Unlike body lice, head lice never carry or spread diseases.

Review Date: 03/17/2006
Reviewed By: John Goldenring, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.