Anyone who comes into close direct contact with someone who already has head lice, contaminated clothing, or other belongings is at risk for getting head lice. The population greatest at risk tends to be children ages 3-10 years and their families.
Nits are the head lice eggs.
They are difficult to see and to properly diagnose. The eggs are oval and range in color, but are usually yellow to white and take about one week to hatch. The nit hatches into a little louse, or a nymph, which resembles an adult louse but is smaller. To live, the nymph must feed on blood within 24 hours after hatching. After the nymph matures, in about 7 days after hatching, it becomes an adult louse.