A female head louse produces about four eggs per day and a total of about 88 eggs during her lifetime. Lice are transmitted by close personal contact with an infested person or by sharing their articles of clothing and personal items such as hats, headbands, scarfs or caps, combs and brushes. Typically, 10-15 head lice are found. Head lice have been found on people of all socio-economic levels. Although factors such as hair texture may make African-Americans less likely than Caucasians to get head lice, they are not immune to becoming infested.
Lice cause intense itching of the scalp.
Parents and teachers should watch for children who scratch their heads constantly or excessively. In such cases, check the scalp for nits or lice. If you're not sure what to look for, ask for help from someone who can positively identify the eggs or the insects. One simple way to check for lice is to have the person hold their head over a light-colored towel. Then, brush the hair and scalp vigorously towards the towel.