Head Lice

Head lice are small insects that live in people's hair and feed on their blood. Lice glue their eggs, or "nits," to hair so that the nits do not get brushed off. Lice die quickly (within two days) without feeding so they cannot live very long away from your child's head. Nits take six to nine days to hatch, and seven or more days for the lice to become egg-laying adults. How do people get head lice? Children can give head lice to other children when they share combs, hats, clothing, barrettes, helmets, scarves, headphones, or other personal items. Head lice are a problem in homes, day care centers, elementary, and preschools. Kids are much more likely to get lice from family members and playmates than from classmates at school.