What are Head Lice?

Head louse, SEM - Stock Image - C030/2118 - Science Photo Library

Head lice are small insects that live in human hair and feed on blood from the scalp. Nits are the empty egg cases that the head lice have hatched from. Head lice are a common problem in school age children and whilst they are mostly harmless, they can live in hair for a long time and be irritating and frustrating to deal with.

Head lice spread by direct head-to-head contact. They climb from one person’s hair to another. They are unlikely to by spread by objects such as hats, combs and pillows and once detached from the hair they normally die within 12-24 hours.

It is very difficult to prevent head lice, so it is important to regularly check heads of school age children regularly for signs of head lice.