If you or a member of your family have lice, you will probably find out quickly. Children are the most likely to get lice, especially when they contact other children who may have them. Therefore, you must be alert and if you have a child, check their head frequently.
Seeing a white spot on the child’s head can be of great concern since lice are most likely. Apart from being very unpleasant, lice can cause certain diseases because they feed on humans’ blood. By observing them near you, you should look for useful methods to get rid of them.
What Do Lice Look Like?
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Lice are very small insects that attach to the scalp through their six legs. The size of lice can be compared to the size of a sesame seed, which can be difficult to see. Apart from lice, some nits or eggs are more difficult to see because of their tiny size.
These insects can be brown, white, or gray and can often be found on the nape of the neck, behind the ears. Nits can also be found in these same places, and they can be round or oval. Nits adhere to the scalp very tightly, making them more difficult to remove than lice.
Types of Lice
There are three types of lice, and they only live in the human species, so you will never see these insects in animals. Lice only feed on human blood, and their life cycle consists of three stages: eggs, nymphs, and adults. The eggs are known as nits and are very similar to adults but a little smaller.
For any of the lice types to develop, they need to be kept warm and close to human skin to feed. In case of losing contact with the human being, they will quickly die, so getting rid of them is the best option.
To stay alive, different types of lice will seek a different place on the body to live:
The crab louse
Also known as the pubic louse, this insect is found in the pubic hair area and can reach other areas where there is also a population of hairs, except on the head.
The head louse
This louse can be noticed on the scalp, especially behind the ears and the head’s back. This type of lice is seen most often in children.
The body louse
This type of lice can be found on clothing since it is an element that directly connects with the body. This louse is very similar to the one found on the head, although it is slightly larger.
Who Gets Head Lice?
And head lice are most frequent in children that visit day treatment, preschool, or perhaps elementary school. Kids of this age usually play together strongly along with more hair-to-hair contact, plus they might discuss brushes, hair clips, hats, as well as the like. And adults who live with kids have a greater possibility of getting head lice.
Lice Pictures Actual Size
Lice are known as parasites because they feed on human blood and achieve this, they inhabit the scalp of people. When lice reach adulthood, it can measure 2 to 3 millimeters, which is very similar to a sesame seed.
You can tell about the presence of lice on the head by feeling itching or some movement on it. But to appreciate every detail of them, it will be necessary to use a magnifying glass.