"Head lice can happen to anyone."
Children's Head Lice FAQs
Below is a list of questions your children may ask with answers they will understand. If they ask a question you can't answer, just ask us, and we'll try to add it to this list.
What are head lice?
Head Lice are little insects that live in your hair. They nibble at your scalp and make you itch.
What's a louse?
'Lice' is plural for 'louse.' If you have more than one LOUSE on your head, you have head LICE.
How big is a louse?
A louse is actually very small. They can be about the size of a sesame seed. (1/16 to 1/8 of an inch.)
What color is a louse?
It depends on you. A louse can be darker on dark hair, or lighter on light hair. Normally, they are light to dark brown, or black.
What's a nit?
A louse’s egg is called a nit. Nits hatch in seven to ten days.
What does a nit look like?
Nits are very small. They’re smaller than a mustard seed! (1/32 of an inch.) They are oval-shaped, gray to white in color and clear when empty after hatching.
What's a nymph?
A nymph is a baby louse. Nymphs are too young to reproduce.
How do head lice move?
A louse crawls on six legs. They do NOT fly, jump or hop, but they can move very fast.
Can you get head lice from your pet?
No. Head lice do NOT live on animals. They only live on human scalps.
What do head lice eat?
Head lice need blood to survive. They use their little sucking mouths to get blood from your scalp. They need to eat every few minutes.
How do head lice stay on my head?
Head lice have powerful claws that hold onto your hair.
Where do head lice come from?
Nobody really knows where head lice come from, but their remains have been found on mummies in Egypt.
How many head lice are on my head?
It's hard to say, but a female louse can lay up to six nits (eggs) a day on your head.
Why are nits so hard to get off my hair?
Female lice glue their nit to your hair with a very strong gummy solution. It makes the nit really hard to remove, and a parent needs to use a special comb.
When does the nit hatch?
One nit can hatch after seven to ten days and become a nymph.
When does a nymph start laying eggs?
A female nymph will become an adult in three to five days.
How long does a louse live?
A louse will live for about thirty days, so they can make lots of lice in their lifetime.
Why does my head itch?
When a louse eats, their bite leaves their saliva in your skin. That’s what makes you itch!
Can you get a disease from head lice?
Most scientists don't think head lice can give you a disease. But if you scratch your head enough, it can cause an infection.
How do I get head lice out of my hair?
First, a special treatment can be put into your hair. Then, a special comb is used to comb out the head lice and nits. But asking a nurse or doctor about the best treatment to use is always a good idea.
Why does my hair have to be combed?
Nits are tough. Some treatments may not kill all of them. Careful combing is a great way to get them out of your hair so they don’t hatch and start new lice families.
