There are some facts about head lice that you should know. This way you will know what to look for in your own head and in the heads of the children. They are easier to care for and get rid of if caught early. Let’s learn some interesting facts about these critters.
The common head louse is gray in color when not on a host. When put on a host’s head, it tends to take whatever hair the host has. This creature likes to hang out behind the host’s ears and the nearby area best, but can be found all over the head.
The male is slightly smaller than the female. The louse (plural is lice) has six legs, each of which contains claws that help them grab hold of hair. Lice are often mistakenly thought to fly or jump. They don’t, but they crawl.
Another of the facts about lice that you should know is that the female lives about a month on her host. She can lay up to 90 eggs during this time at a rate of 3 per day. These eggs are firmly attached to the hair shafts and are grayish-white in color. They are about 1/16 inch long. These nits (eggs) hatch in about a week.
As adults they feed on their host. In fact, they pierce the skin and secrete their saliva into the blood to prevent it from clotting. If left along, it will continue to feed indefinitely. These bugs also leave dark red droppings on the host’s scalp.
The first sign of head lice is a very itchy head. However, some people do it more than others. However, where the lice have broken open, the skin can become infected when scratched. So check your head if you have an abnormal itch or your children’s head if they scratch their heads more than usual. Of course, with children it doesn’t hurt to check them a few times a week.
Anyone can have a lice infestation. That’s why it’s important not to share personal items like combs and brushes. Also hats, bedding, or anything else that can come into contact with lice on another person.
To examine the head for infestation, you need to cut the hair with a comb. Nits can be seen more easily on dark hair than on blonde hair. One of the important facts about head lice is to remember to check behind the ears because this is the most likely place for lice to lay their eggs. Even schools check children for head lice and report outbreaks to parents. Lice eggs are difficult to remove from hair. A special comb is worn on top of a special hair treatment.
There are many over-the-counter head lice treatments that you can try. If these don’t work, there are some prescription treatments you can get through your doctor. By knowing these facts about head lice, you may be able to avoid getting them.