There are an estimated six to twelve million cases of head lice in the U.S. each year - all over the country. Outbreaks of head lice occur any time children come together in a social setting. Head to head contact such as hugging or playing closely together is the easiest way for lice to spread. Since there is almost no way to stop young children from doing that, about all you can do to prevent spreading is caution young children not to use their friends hats or combs. A big annoyance.
Head lice are stubborn little insects that live in human hair and feed on blood through the scalp.
Contrary to popular belief, they do not jump or fly from one head to another. They do not have wings, but they crawl very quickly. They lay eggs, called nits, which hatch after 6-10 days. The nits are tiny specks that range in color from yellow to gray and adhere to the hair shaft very close to the scalp. They almost look like dandruff but do not flake off, and they cause severe itching.