Lice  

There are three types of lice: head lice, body lice, and pubic lice.  Lice are tiny insects that live on humans, feed on the blood of humans, and can reproduce in such a way that they can quickly become an infestation or pediculosis.  Lice can move from person to person by traveling to another body on such items as a hairbrush, a hat, clothing, or bed linens.   

Head lice are extremely common in school settings.  The lice are located more heavily on the back of the neck and behind the ears and are about the size of a sesame seed.  The female louse lives for about thirty days and during this time lays her eggs (nits) at the rate of about ten a day.  These nits are affixed to the hair of the head with a glue-like substance, which makes them quite difficult to remove.  The nits hatch in ten days, and become adults in ten days, and continue the egg-laying cycle.  Girls are more likely than boys to be infested; white children are more likely to be infested than African-American children.  The most common symptom of infestation is itching, and excessive scratching can lead to secondary skin infections. 

The treatment routine for head lice infestation includes: applying anti-lice products, combing with a fine comb under a bright light to improve ability to see the lice, using adhesive tape to pick up nits, washing bed linens, storing stuffed animals and pillows in a plastic bag for two weeks, and shaking outside, and  disinfecting combs and brushes. 

Body lice are bigger than any other type of lice, and are more likely  to be present due to poor hygiene or close living conditions.  Bathing and clean clothing will almost always protect from the contracting body lice.  There are also some prescription  creams that can be applied to the skin as recommended by your physician.  

Pubic lice, sometimes called “crabs” because of their crab-like appearance under the microscope,  are spread by sexual contact.  These lice can sometimes be seen by the naked eye, but the nymph and egg stages are difficult to see without the use of a magnifying glass.  Treatment includes application of prescription wash, application of vinegar to the infested site, and combing of the hair with a fine-toothed comb.  All clothing and linens should be washed in hot water, and non-washables should be placed in a plastic bag for ten days and shaken outside.  The presence of pubic lice can often be a sign of other sexually-transmitted diseases, so the patient should be examined by a physician for any further disorders. Good hygiene and using safe sexual practices can help prevent the occurrence of pubic lice.