Old wives tales associating head lice infestation with poor hygiene or lack of household cleanliness add an unnecessary social stigma to the disorder. In truth, head lice are parasitic insects that spread readily from one human to another through direct skin contact. Children of primary school age tend to be affected more, presumably because of their close contact during playtime and at school. The National Pediculosis Association estimates that about 12 million cases of head lice are discovered each year.
Head lice are wingless parasites that live on the scalp.
These parasites need to feed on human blood in order to survive. Head lice cannot live on family pets nor can they survive for periods longer than about 10 days without human contact. The most common symptom associated with head lice is itching of the scalp. When head lice puncture the skin to draw blood for survival their saliva causes itching and may result in a skin rash. If you notice that your child is frequently scratching his or her head, check for lice.