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Even though they are extremely small, head lice can be viewed by the naked eye. An adult louse resembles a sesame seed in size and color. It takes about seven days for a nymph to mature into an adult. Lice feed on blood every four to six hours; however, they can survive independently from the scalp for up to three days.

Itching and scratching is felt when lice bites. The itching may not always start immediately. It depends on how responsive ones skin is to the lice. Lice or nits can be seen by parting the hair into small sections. If you are checking for lice and nits, they can be found on the scalp, behind the ears, and around the nape of the neck.

Searching for lice is easiest if you use a magnifying glass, lice comb and bright light. However, it is very difficult to discover nymphs and adult louses. Many times, there are small numbers of these fast moving bugs. They dart around, making them difficult to find.

Head lice are extremely contagious especially within group settings. They can spread rapidly from person to person. Even though they cannot fly or jump, they have special claws that allow them to creep and tenaciously stick to hair. The sharing of clothes, hats, bed linens, hairbrushes, and combs helps spread them along.

The lice and nits can be killed using medicated lice treatments. Itching will take some days to stop. It is suggested to repeat the treatment in 8 to 10 days to make sure all the nits have been killed, to avoid any possibility of getting them again.

Body lice are very common worldwide. They are capable of transmitting diseases, such as typhus, relapsing fever, and trench fever. More than concerning being concerned about it as a disease, it is more embarrassing and itchy. During the winter months, they are more common as people tend to be dressed in layers of clothing, creating a warm, moist environment that is ideal for lice growth. The body lice problem is generally limited to underdeveloped countries with poor sanitation and overcrowding.

Head lice mature in a week, feeding on blood at least four times a day, but able to fast up to 3 days. Locate behind ears, back of the neck, and top of the head, using bright light and a magnifying glass. Part the hair in tiny sections, using a lice comb. Casual contact and sharing personal grooming transmits the head louse. Bites cause irritation quickly in sensitive skin. Medicated lice treatments are effective if repeated in 8 to ten days to break the insect breeding cycle. Warm moist conditions, overcrowding and lack of sanitation promotes the spread of body lice, spreading fevers such as typhus in developing countries.