Approximately 10 million Americans are infested with head lice each year, according to officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Head lice are very easy to get and can occur in any family.
They are not associated with cleanliness or lack of it. While head lice are a nuisance, they do not carry diseases. The good news is that you can get rid of this often-persistent pest with proper treatment of the infested person's hair and home environment. Pre-school and elementary age children are infested most often. They most commonly get lice from contact with infested family members or friends.