Head Lice Also Known as Pediculus Humanus Capitis: What Are They?
Head lice, known as Pediculus humanus capitis in medical terms are parasites that live on the scalp and in the hair of humans. An infestation of head lice is sometimes called Pediculosis. Head lice need humans to survive and can easily spread from one person to another. It can happen to anyone, even the cleanest person can become infested. Special shampoos along with special combs that pull out the nits and lice from the hair can be successfully used to treat head lice.
Head lice have three distinct forms, the nits, nymphs and adults. The nits are the eggs of the head lice that are attached to the hair shaft. They can often be mistaken for dried scalp flakes, dandruff or hair spray that has hardened. They are oval shaped and are usually white or yellow. The eggs take about a week to hatch and become nymphs.
Nymphs are not fully formed head lice but they mature quickly, becoming adult head lice in seven days. Nymphs must feed on blood in order to survive. The adult head lice are tiny about the same size as a sesame seed. They can be grayish white to tan in color and have six legs. If the head lice are on a shaft of hair of a dark haired person, they will appear darker in color. The adult lice can live up to thirty days if they remain on the head, but because they need blood to survive they will only last for 48 hours if they fall off.
Head lice can be found all over the world and are spread through direct contact with an infested person or an object that the louse has attached itself onto. This mean sharing a comb, brush, hat or other hair accessories or just being in close contact with an affected person can spread the infestation to someone else. Contact with another child's head while playing is common and is often how head lice are passed on. Head lice can't fly or jump from one head to another but they can be brushed onto another head or crawl across whenever people are in close contact with each other.
Borrowing brushes, combs, scarves, hats or sports uniforms can transfer head lice. They can be transferred to another person by using someone's towel, by lying on a bed, pillow or carpet that a person with head lice has lain on.
Lice are not spread by pets because they can only live on humans. The body's most common reaction to head lice is itching. Itching can indirectly cause infections. Although the lice do not carry infections themselves, constant scratching can cause cuts and abrasions in the skin of the scalp that can become infected and may need to be treated with antibiotics. A child with head lice can become irritable because of the itching.
You can tell if your child has head lice by looking through the hair for nits and lice. The nits are easier to find because they are whitish and stick themselves onto the shafts of hair. They can not be moved along the shaft like dandruff or dry scalp flakes. If you are unsure that your children have head lice you should take them to your family doctor or local health center for diagnosis. Sometimes your child may be sent home from school after a school nurse discovers head lice on your child with the instruction to return only when he or she no longer has any nits.
For more information on managing head lice read this article: The Essential Steps You Must Take in Controlling Head Lice Infestation
