Lice Aren't Nice

Lice Aren't Nice

Who Gets Head Lice? Head lice love to chomp on human heads. They have bugged people for thousands of years. Yet many people don't understand what they are or where they come from. Some people think head lice are a sign of a filthy home. Others think only people who don't wash enough get them.

From Louse to Lice When you see more than one mouse, you don't call them mouses, right? You call them mice. In the same way, one of these insects is called a louse, but two or more are called lice. In fact, who gets lice has nothing to do with how clean your home or school is. It's not about how often you wash or brush your hair. It's not about your hair length, either. Head lice affect people who are rich and people who are poor. They affect people all over the world.

Name That Louse! Different types of lice live on humans. They all feed on human blood. Body lice and head lice look almost the same, but head lice are a bit smaller. An adult head louse is about the size of a pencil point!

Their small size makes them tough to spot and tough to catch. Strong claws on their legs help them hold tight to human hair.

How Do We Get Head Lice? Head lice usually spread when people touch heads. Sometimes they spread when a person with head lice shares a hat, comb, or other item. A louse can hitch a ride on the shared item to reach a new person.