皇冠体育app

Head lice are parasitic insects called Pediculus humanus capitis. 皇冠体育appy only live on the heads of people.

Life cycle

皇冠体育appre are 3 forms of head lice: nits, nymphs, and adults.

Nits

Nits are head lice eggs. 皇冠体育app oval, yellowy white eggs are hard to see and may be confused with dandruff. 皇冠体育appy attach themselves to the hair shaft, and take about a week to hatch. 皇冠体育app eggs remain after hatching, and many nits are empty egg cases.

Nymphs

Nymphs hatch from the nits. 皇冠体育app baby lice look like the adults, but are smaller. 皇冠体育appy take about 7 days to mature to adults, and feed on blood to survive.

Adults

Adults are about the size of a sesame seed, have 6 legs, and are tan to greyish-white. 皇冠体育app legs have hook-like claws to hold onto the hair with. Adults can live up to 30 days and feed on blood.

Transmission

Anyone can catch head lice, but preschool children, primary school children and their families are most at risk.

Head lice are spread most commonly by close person-to-person contact.

Control

Read Health protection in schools and other childcare facilities.

Treatment and prevention

For information on how to spot, treat and prevent head lice, visit .