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Head Lice 

Head lice can affect anyone. Head lice are annoying and may cause itching, but they do not transmit or cause disease.

Children and adults’ reactions to head lice can subject children to teasing, bullying and isolation.
Reactions to head lice can significantly interfere with a child’s emotional well-being, social status in the classroom and ability to learn. For these reasons, head lice infestations should be treated.

Facts

• Head lice do not spread disease.
• Head lice are tiny insects about the size of a sesame seed and can vary from white to brown in color. See photos. 
• Head lice live only on a person’s head and can only survive 1-2 days away from the scalp.
• Head lice do not jump or fly.
• Head lice can move quickly on dry hair, so they are difficult to see.
• Head lice bites can make the scalp itchy (but not always).
• Adult head lice lay about 5-6 eggs (called nits) every day. These nits are glued to the hair very close to the scalp (within 6mm or ¼ inch).
• It takes 7-10 days for the nits to hatch into a nymph.
• It takes 7-10 days for a nymph to become an adult. During that time, it stays on the head, but does not lay eggs.
• You can find nits anywhere on the head especially behind the ears or on the back of the neck.
• You can’t get rid of nits by brushing, or with a hair dryer.
• After the head lice hatch, the shell of the nit stays glued to the hair. If it is more than 6 mm or ¼ inch away from the scalp, it is probably empty.
• You can get head lice by touching heads with someone who has head lice, or by sharing combs, brushes and hats.
• Head lice are common where children play or work closely together.