This information leaflet is designed to give general advice and guidance.
Head lice are very small insects which live on the scalp of human beings.
They are few millimetres in length and are a light brown colour. They don't live on animals. The lice feed by sucking blood from your scalp. They lay eggs, called nits , which they stick to the shafts of your hair with a very strong glue. The eggs are dull grey, and are fastened to the hair very close to the scalp, so they are kept nice and warm.