Lice

Back to school is one more reason to be vigilant against infections that can plague children. One of the most common is that of head lice, which are tiny parasitic insects that feed on human blood. They are located generally in the head and behind the ears. This infestation is also known as pediculosis.

How are .- The adult louse is between 1/10-1/8 inch long. It is a creature without wings, flat, stubby antennas and six legs, which end in a sharp curved claws. These claws used to hold on to hair while crawling, the lice do not fly or jump.

The adult louse can live for about a month in a human host, are known to survive up to five days when the host is not a human. The pregnant female louse can lay about 90 eggs during her lifetime than a month, or three or four eggs per day. The eggs, also called nits, hatch in about a week.

Although lice tend to be more prevalent in areas with poor living conditions in overcrowded homes of people where personal hygiene is poor, the lice can affect any social class. Here, more often found in young children, however, anyone can get lice