Adults can live up to 30 days and feed on blood. Head lice cannot jump, hop or swim. Anyone can catch head lice, but preschool children, primary school children and their families are most at risk. Studies in the United States have shown that black African Americans rarely get head lice. This is especially common during play or sport at school and with close contacts at home.
Transmission is possible through infected clothes, combs, brushes or towels, but extremely unlikely.
The lifespan of a louse is very short once detached from the hair so fumigation is not necessary. The rate of transmission is low. The head lice are most commonly found behind the ears and at the back of the neck. It is rare to find them on the body, eyelashes, or eyebrows. A person with head lice may feel a tickling or itching feeling of something moving in the hair.