How are Head Lice Spread?

Introduction
Head lice are highly adaptable creatures and a very common problem, second only to the common cold among communicable diseases affecting school children. Getting head lice isn't a sign of bad personal hygiene or an unclean living environment. This itchy infestation, also called pediculosis capitis, most commonly spreads through close personal contact and by sharing personal belongings.

How common are they?
Head lice are very common. In primary schools in the UK, probably one child in ten is infected every year. Young children tend toput their heads together, with friends or other family members, and lice are easily spread from person to person.
This problem has got worse recently, and head lice are much more common then they used to be.

How are head lice spread?
Anyone can get head lice. Having head lice does not mean a person is unclean.
Head lice are commonly spread among children and adults who may stay close together in one place, such as in child care settings and schools. Head lice cannot jump or fly from one person to another.
Although less likely, head lice can also be spread by children sharing hats, combs, hairbrushes or headphones.

Who is at risk of getting head lice?
Anyone can get head lice, but they are more common among school-aged children. Head lice spread more easily among children 3 to 12 years of age because they share their belongings more often than adults and play close together.

It's not true that people get head lice because they're dirty. Head lice are very contagious.

Diagnosis of Head Lice
In addition to having the symptoms listed above, children with head lice will have gray or reddish brown live head lice scurrying around their scalp. Lice are small, about the size of a sesame seed, and although they don't fly or hop, they can crawl very fast,
making them hard to spot.

Causes
The cause is a tiny insect which lives on the scalp, and feeds by sucking blood through the skin. The head louse grips on to the hair with its six tiny claws.
The female lays its eggs (nits) in sacs which are glued to a hair. These take seven to ten days to hatch. The lice then take seven to fourteen days to become mature and ready to reproduce. The total numbers of lice thus rise very quickly.

What is the treatment for head lice infestation?
Getting rid of head lice requires treating the individual, the family, and the household.
Treat the individual and the family -- This requires using an over-the-counter or prescription lice- killing medicine. Treat only persons who are infested. Remember that all lice-killing products are pesticides. Follow these treatment steps:

·    Remove all clothing.
·    Apply lice-killing medicine, also called pediculicide [peh-DICK-you-luh-side], according to label instructions. If the affected person has extra-long hair, you may need to use a second bottle.

Head Lice Life Cycle
The life cycle of the head louse has three stages: nit, nymph, and adult. The life cycle of a single louse from egg to egg is about 1 month.
Nits: Head lice eggs are called nits. Nits are laid by the adult female louse and are attached to the base of the hair shaft by strong cement. They are located close to the scalp because they require body heat for incubation.