Common Myths & Facts About Lice
People are often scared and have many questions when it comes to lice. How did this happen? What do I do? How do I prevent this from happening again? There is no need to worry. I have highlighted here some common asked questions when it comes to dealing with lice.
People that have lice are dirty.
This is the farthest thing from the truth.
Anyone can get head lice; Lice can be easily transmissible from head to head.
Animals can also carry lice.
Head lice do not live on pets.
Pets do not play a role in the spread of head lice.
Lice are only attracted to fine hair.
NO! Lice does not discriminate
Anyone can have an infestation. Hair type does make the likelihood of an infestation lower but not possible.
Head lice carry disease.
Head lice are not known to spread disease.
Head lice can be an annoyance because thier presence may cause itching and loss of sleep.
Sometimes the itching can lead to excessive scratching that can sometimes increase the chance of a secondary infection.
Lice are just like fleas, but on the hair and scalp.
The head louse, or Pediculus humanus capitis, is a parasitic insect that can be found on the body.
The parasitic insect that can be found on the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes of people.
Head lice feed on human blood several times a day and live close to the human scalp.
Using someone's brush can transmit lice.
Head lice and thier egges (nits) soon perish if seperated from their human host.
Adult lice can live only a day or so off the human head without blood for feeding.
Nymphs (young head lice) can live only several hours withoug feeding on a human.
Nits (head lice eggs) generally die within a week away from their human host and cannot hatch at a temperature lower than close to the human scalp.
For these reasons, the risk of transmission of head lice from a wig or other hairpiece is extremely small,
particularly if the hairpiece has not been worn in the preceding 48 hours by someone who is actively infested with lice.
You have to throw away everthing to stop an infestation.
Head lice survive less than one or two days if they fall off the scalp and cannot feed.
Head lice eggs (nits) cannot hatch and usually die within a week if the do not remain under ideal conditions of head and humidity found close to the human scalp. Therefore, it is very unlikely to hatch away from the head. In addtion, if the egg were to hatch, the newly emerged nymph would die within several hours if it did not feed on human blood.
So no need to throw away those beddings, pillows, and hair items.
You can wash them for peace of mind but it's not necessary.