Head lice are parasitic insects that live in the hair of humans where they feed on blood by biting the skin. They are a common problem in primary school aged children. Head lice do not spread disease, but their bites can cause itching and sometimes skin irritation.

They have six legs with claws and they can attach themselves to hair. Head lice eggs or nits are usually white, oval, pin-head sized eggs that attach to the hair shaft and hatch six to ten days after being laid, making head lice infestation an ongoing problem.

Head lice cannot fly or jump; they usually spread via head-to-head contact but can also be transmitted by sharing hats and brushes that have been recently used by an infested person.

Adult head lice can live for about 20-30 days. The female head louse can lay between 5-10 eggs per day. You may not know you have a lice infestation for several weeks as many infested individuals will not feel an itching sensation from a head lice infestation.