The thought of an infestation of head lice spreading through a classroom is one of the greatest concerns of school
officials and parents alike. The spread
of head lice from child to child in the confines of a school can be rapid.
As opposed to body lice which infest the seams
of clothes and bedding, or crab lice, which infest pubic regions; head lice are
found on the hair of the head. Usually
found around the ears and the back of the neck, they can also be found
infesting the entire scalp.
Two main theories on the spread of head lice
exists, one has the lice and eggs, (also called nits), being spread by the
sharing of combs, hats, scarves, and hair brushes. The other leans more towards personal contact (sharing pillows,
wrestling or general horseplay). Contradictory to the theory that girls are more likely to be bothered by
head lice than boys.
The female louse deposits 250-300 eggs, which
are glued to the base of the hair. In
5-10 days the eggs hatch into nymphs. Almost immediately they take a blood meal
They go through three instars, or molts, before reaching adulthood in about 16
days. The adult generally lives for
about thirty days. The small white nits
resemble tiny pearls in the hair and have been frequently mistaken for drops of
hair spray.
Pest control operators face a very difficult situation when dealing with any type of
lice. A common reaction upon finding
these creatures in one’s hair is to call their exterminator and try to treat
their entire home or school with residual pesticides. This accomplishes nothing, since the best treatment is on the
personal level. The experienced pest
control operator will usually recommend the affecter person to consult with
their physician or a clinic. Most head
lice problems can be successfully treated with over the counter shampoos and
lotions. The best thing the pest
control operator can do is identify the type of lice involved and be a source
of information for their customers.
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