Who gets head lice?
Who gets head lice?
Head lice are common in children, but can
affect anyone of any age. They are not a sign of dirty hair or poor
hygiene. Close 'hair to hair' contact is usually needed to pass lice
on. Head lice cannot jump or fly, but walk from one head to another.
They soon die when away from hair, and do not live in clothes, bedding,
etc. Most head lice infections are caught from family or close friends
who are not aware that they have head lice.
What are the problems with head lice?
Many people with head lice do not have any symptoms. An itchy scalp occurs in some cases. This is due to an allergy to the lice, not due to them biting. It often takes about three months for itch to develop after you are infested with lice. Therefore, you may not notice that you have head lice for a while, and you may have passed them on to others for some time. Head lice and nits do not wash off with normal shampoo. Head lice do not cause any other medical problems. In many cases the head is not 'crawling with lice'. Commonly, there are less than 12 lice present.
Average rating:
