The Facts of Lice

Thanks to the tremendous efforts of universities and dedicated researchers like Katie Shepherd with Shepherd Institute for Lice Solutions, we have access to so much more information about head lice and their impact on our health than ever before. Accurate information is the best tool for fighting this pest-y situation!

• Head lice carries with it an unfortunate stigma that is undeserved. Education can help end that today. The presence of head lice does NOT indicate poor hygiene. They can infest all classes of society and can be found on any ethnicity. That being said, how we handle it is very important. It does not go away on it's own and we mustn't ignore it.
• While they do prefer certain hair types, allowing them to move with ease, let's be clear, they will take what they can get! No one is immune. 
• They require hair, human blood, and a warm scalp to live. Head lice cannot survive off their human host for more than 24 hours. Even after 12 hours of not feeding, they are far too dehydrated to survive. Nits will not likely hatch away from the warm scalp that incubates them. So the work to do around the house is minimal. Place brushes and combs in a zip lock bag and place in the freezer for a couple hours. If the infected person has worn it or slept on it in the last 24 hours, throw it in the washer and dryer, normal cycle.  That's it. The rest of your energy and focus should be on treating the head and checking the heads of close family members and friends/contacts. Head lice do not travel to other parts of your body. 
• Head Lice are crawlers. They cannot jump or fly.  They are spread by head to head contact. They do not willingly leave the head. You are not likely to get them from anywhere but someone else's head that is in close contact. Although not the most common way, they can be transferred by sharing recently used hair brushes.
• Lice cannot live on your pets or in your home. They live on your head and the heads of your closest contacts.
• Itching is a common symptom of a lice infestation. However those not allergic to louse saliva will not have an itchy scalp. Those that itch are estimated at about 50% of the population.
• Most over-the-counter treatments are toxic pesticides and should not be used excessively (or at all!) 
• The CDC says head lice is just a nuisance and while it is true kids need to be in school, it still behooves us and the community to rid ourselves of it immediately.  The sores caused by scratching can lead to secondary infections, matted hair, and in rare occasions where it gets so bad, anemia can lead to death ( Fun fact- Check out how Nathaniel Bacon of the 1676 Rebellion died from a head lice infestation! Likely anemia.) 
• Head lice is one of the #1 reasons for school absences. Allowing lice in your schools, as some are adopting more lax policies, may provide a positive impact on a schools overall attendance, but consider the fact that it most certainly will increase the spread of head lice. It is best to focus more on providing  the tools and accurate treatment information to those families needing help!
• You cannot drown or wash head lice away. Similar to holding one's breath, they have the ability to shut down their system for up to 2 hours.
• Fun fact- Mixing incompatible blood types often ends badly for the louse!