What Are The Causes Of Lices?
Lice can infest the human body, head, and pubic area as they feed on human blood. The female louse releases a sticky substance that firmly attaches each egg (nit) to a hair shaft base. These eggs hatch in seven to nine days.
You can get head, body, or pubic lice by coming into close contact with either lice or their eggs. As lice can’t fly or jump, so they spread through:
- Body-to-body or head-to-head contact –Lice may spread from children to other family members as they interact or play closely.
- Proximity of stored belongings –Storing your infested clothing in lockers, closets or hanging them side-by-side on hooks at home or school, or storing your items such as blankets, pillows, combs, and toys in proximity at home can lead to the spread of lice.
- Items shared among family members or friends –These items may include stuffed toys, clothing, towel, headphones, combs, brushes, hair decorations, blankets, and pillows.
- Contact with contaminated furniture –Sitting or lying on a bed or any place which is overstuffed or covered with cloths and is recently used by a person with lice can spread them. Lice can survive for one to two days away from the body.
- Sexual contact – Pubic lice are most commonly spread through sexual contact and mostly affect adults. Children getting pubic lice may be a sign of abuse or sexual exposure.