Head Lice
How are head lice spread?
Head lice can be spread whenever there is direct contact of the head or hair with an infested individual. Lice can also be spread through the sharing of personal articles like hats, towels, brushes, helmets, hair ties, etc. There is also a possibility of spreading head lice via a pillow, headrest or similar items.
Head lice do not jump or fly and generally cannot survive longer than 24 hours off the host.
Do head lice jump?
Head lice do not have hind legs to hop or jump. They also do not have wings and cannot fly.
Can you catch head lice from cars, pillows or furniture?
If a louse comes off the head and is left behind (i.e., on a pillow or head rest), it may be possible for the louse to infest another individual who places their head in that area. Vacuuming is recommended for any areas or items that may be in contact with those who are infested.
How long can nits and lice survive off of a head?
Once laid, it takes 7-10 days for a nit to hatch. Nits off the head may not even hatch at all as they are laid close to scalp because they need human warmth to incubate. A nit hatching off of a head results in tiny nymph head louse which, without an accessible/nearby human, is doomed because it requires an immediate blood meal.
Adult head lice off of their human hosts will generally not survive for more than 24 hours.
Can you catch head lice from headphones or helmets?
The extent to which head lice are transmitted to others via headphones or helmets is unknown. Ideally, risk of transmission can be eliminated by making sure children have and use their own equipment. If this is not possible, you can clean the items between children by wiping them with a damp paper towel. An additional measure would be to encourage each child to wear a baseball cap to help shield the hair from contact with the item. Helmets and headphone should never be sprayed.
Most importantly - and best for the entire community - all parents should screen their children regularly and before sending them into the group setting where helmets or headphones will be shared.
What is the life cycle of the head louse?
Head lice can survive on a human host for approximately 30 days. They generally cannot survive longer than 24 hours off the host.
A female louse lays 3-5 eggs a day. The eggs hatch in 7-10 days and it takes another 7-10 day for the louse to mature and lay their own eggs.
How do you treat a home or school for lice?
Homes or schools don't get head lice - people do. Head lice are human parasites and require human blood to survive. Vacuuming is the safest and best way to remove lice or fallen hairs with attached nits from upholstered furniture, rugs, stuffed animals or car seats - wherever someone with head lice may have rested their head. Pesticidal sprays are unwarranted and may pose personal and environmental hazards. Vacuum and save your time and energy for what benefits you the most - thorough nit removal.
"The weight of evidence appears to be against transmission from inanimate objects being significant, and the promotion of inanimate objects that play an epidemiologically important role in head lice dispersal is not supported by evidence. We conclude that the control of head lice should focus on the head, not on the environment." From Indirect Transmission of Head Lice via Inanimate Objects - by Deon V. Canyon and Rick Speare.
Do I have to bag stuffed animals and other items?
Experts used to suggest bagging items such as stuffed animals for a number of weeks to help bring infestations under control. Since lice cannot survive without human blood, this is unnecessary. Vacuuming is a sufficient safeguard for any questionable areas or items that may be in contact with those who are infested. You can also put bed linens, stuffed animals and other items in a dryer for 30 minutes.
Save your physical and emotional energies for screening and thorough lice and nit removal.
Do I need to spray my furniture and bedding?
Head lice are human parasites and require human blood to survive. They are not environmental pests so pesticidal sprays for furniture and bedding are unnecessary and a serious risk to health. Vacuuming is the safest and best way to remove lice or fallen hairs with attached nits from upholstered furniture, rugs, stuffed animals and cars.
Where do head lice come from?
Head lice do not come out of the air or from the ground. They are human parasites and have probably been here since the beginning of time. Desiccated (dried up) head lice and their eggs (nits) have been found on the hair and scalps of Egyptian mummies.
How can you verify successful treatment?
First, one must define treatment. Someone can be treated and still be infested. The ultimate determination that someone is no longer infested can only be accomplished with a thorough manual screening with a quality lice and nit removal comb to confirm the complete absence of lice and nits. Visual screening can be helpful but it is not definitive. The LiceMeister® comb is a medical device designed for screening as well as the removal of lice and nits. Such combing offers peace of mind and assurances that you are lice and nit free.