The head louse is a wingless human parasite, a couple of millimetres in size, feeds on human blood and multiplies fast. Head lice live in the hair and spread from one person to another in close contact. Treatment of head lice must be initiated immediately when head lice are detected.
Head lice spread easily through close contact by crawling from one person to another, and through hairbrushes as well as hats and scarfs. Head lice do not fly or jump, nor are they spread by pets and other domestic animals. The small and transparent lice are difficult to see, but their eggs (nits) are quite visibly attached to the hair near the scalp. Lice multiply fast. A female louse can lay a hundred eggs during her lifetime, i.e. one month and the eggs hatch within 10 days from laying. Head lice often cause epidemics at schools and care facilities but they do not spread diseases. Head lice infestation has nothing to do with poor hygiene and frequent shampooing does not prevent them from spreading. Prevention is the best cure.