Head Lice in Schools

Lice identification

These pages will help you identify and get rid of head lice. There are three types of lice (singular: louse) that bite humans. Other animals, like birds and mammals, have their own species of lice but humans are host to the following three species: Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis), body lice (Pediculus humanus humanus) and pubic lice (Pthirus pubis).

Head lice and pubic lice attach their eggs, called nits, to head and body hairs whereas body lice lay their nits in clothing. The location of nits, on clothing versus hair, therefore, can be used to easily determine which louse you are dealing with (see Related Articles below).

Lice infestation

Head lice (upper right) are ectoparasites (external, blood-feeding) and are especially common in school-age children. They bite to obtain blood much like mosquitoes and bites cause itchy wounds but they do not transmit diseases.

Head lice are most common in kids where they can be found in any group regardless of socioeconomic level. Head lice are transmitted by person to person contact and sharing of personal items which is why they tend to be more common in kids. However, anyone in the family can become infested.

Unfortunately, head lice cause much over-reaction and over-treatment by well-meaning adults. They can be effectively managed despite growing problems with insecticide resistance to pyrethrum and permethrin, the medications in popular lice treatments.