Thanks to tremendous efforts of universities and dedicated researchers, we have access to so much more information about lice and their impact than ever before. Knowledge 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 what defines us. It does not go away by itself and we mustn't ignore it.
- You’ve heard “Lice like clean hair.” lice have claws they use to grab onto hair strands and quickly move from strand to strand Think of it like a monkey swinging from a vine. So they do maneuver better in hair that separates easily. 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 human blood, hair and a warm scalp to survive. Head lice cannot survive off their host for more than 24 hours. Even after 12 hours of being off the head, they are too dehydrated to survive. So they are irrelevant! That should put away the notion that there is much cleaning to do around the house! It's unrelated to lice!
- Head lice are crawlers. They cannot jump or fly. The only way they are contracted is by direct contact, usually head to head; so most likely someone in the person's circle.
- Lice cannot live on your pets or in your home. They live only on your head and the head of your closest contacts.
- Head lice to not travel to other parts of your body.
- Itching is a common symptom of a lice infestation. However, those not allergic to louse saliva will not have an itchy scalp. Those allergic 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!)
- Head lice is one of the number one reasons for school absences. Allowing lice in your schools, as some are adopting more lax policies, may provide a positive impact on a school's overall budget, but consider the fact that will most certainly will increase the spread.
- You cannot drown or wash head lice away. Similar to holding ones breath, they have the ability to shut down their system for up to two hours. The claws of the louse also allows them to clasp onto the hair shaft tightly to survive.
- Fun fact: Lice cannot mix incompatible blood types. Their intestines will explode if they do!