Headlice

Head lice are tiny, crawling insects that live in the hair on your head. The most common symptom is itching, especially in the back of your head and neck and near your ears. Special medicated shampoos that contain a substance called pyrethrin's are available to kill lice. What are head lice? The hair on a person's head is home to small, crawling insects known as head lice. The lice attach their eggs, known as nits, to the hair that is exposed at the surface of your skin after sucking blood from your scalp to feed (hair shafts). A pediculosis is an infestation of head lice. Who does head lice affect? Although head lice can affect anyone, they tend to affect families with young children most frequently (ages 3 to 11). Children are more at danger because they play with other kids head-to-head and might exchange items that come in contact with their hair. How common are head lice? An estimated 6 million to 12 million persons worldwide are affected by head lice infestations each ye