“Gonna Pick That Louse Right Out Of My Hair”

The term ‘nit picker’ was likely coined in the 1950’s, but had it’s roots in the chore of spending ample time seeking to remove louse larva (nits) from the head. Lice themselves are very small, but the larva are much smaller and less detectable. Today the term ‘nit picker’ indicates someone who is a stickler for details.

Head lice are a unique problem on a world wide scale. The World Health Organization reports infestation rates are, “high almost everywhere, both in developed and developing countries and in tropical and temperate countries. In many of the studies…infestations were found among 90 percent or more of the children.”

Lice require a human host to feed on and will generally die within 24-48 hours apart from a human host.

Common Types

Head Lice: (Pediculus capitis). Commonly observed in children ages 3-10 and their immediate family members
Body Lice: (Pediculus humanus corporis) This type of lice is generally spread by being in close proximity to others.
Pubic Lice: (Phthirus pubis) Commonly passed through sexual contact and is often called crab lice or ‘crabs’.

Head Lice Causes

Many may recall nurse visits in elementary school as they searched your scalp for lice infestation. Children were sent home if lice were found in the scalp. The reason for such a strong response has much to do with the ability of the lice to proliferate among school children. Lice are spread by using a comb or brush that has been used by someone with lice. It can also be spread by wearing a hat, clothing, towel, jacket, or hair accent piece such as clips or ribbons that have been in contact with someone who has lice. Infestation can also occur through transference related to bedding, carpeting or stuffed toys that have been in proximity to one who has been previously infected.

Lice cannot fly, so they must rely on person to person contact.

A ‘nit’ is a louse egg and is attached to the hair shaft. Within a week or so the egg will hatch and the subsequent lice population will feed on the blood of a new host. It may surprise you to know that the nit can go from egg to egg layer in a matter of two weeks. This is why active steps need to be taken to eradicate the lice.

General Symptoms

Those who have either head lice, body lice or pubic lice may experience an urge to scratch because the infected area feels ticklish. Sores are possible due to potential infection from lice bites. Some will also experience an allergic reaction.

Diagnosis

A complete diagnosis can be performed by a health care professional, but a home check can confirm the presence of lice. The lice will be near the scalp and the nits will be located on a hair shaft within ¼ inch of the scalp. Lice can move quickly from probing fingers. If you have trouble locating an adult louse, a close inspection of the hair shaft may assist in locating nits. Pubic lice can be self inspected as well. The pubic louse has a shape that is similar to a crab and is an irritant to both female and male genitalia.

Risk Factors

Lice often instigate allergic reactions as well as associated infections from the bites. Pubic lice can result in female bacterial infection when the affected area is scratched. Pubic lice can also be found in beards, moustaches and arm pits. As with all lice varieties the public lice is spread through contact as well as the use of items common to the infected individual.

Head lice treatment information