| Disease | Injury | Nutrition | Poison |
| Special Topic | Surgery | Symptoms | Test |
| |
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
|
| Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention |
Head lice |
| Definition: |
| Head lice are tiny parasitic insects (Pediculus humanus capitis) that live on the scalp and can be spread by close contact with other people. |
| Alternative Names: |
| Lice - head; Nits; Pediculosis - head lice; Pediculosis capitis |
| Causes, incidence, and risk factors: |
There are three common types of lice: head lice, body lice, and pubic lice. Head lice infect the scalp hair and are easiest to see at the nape of the neck and over the ears. Small eggs can be seen on the hair shafts. They appear much like flakes of dandruff, but are stuck firmly to the hair shaft instead of flaking off of the scalp. Head lice do not cause a serious medical problem and do not spread other diseases (as body lice do), but they are spread very easily. Risk factors include close, overcrowded living conditions. Lice also spread readily among school children. It is important to note that having lice is not an indicator of poor hygiene or low socioeconomic status. |
Reviewed By: Philip L. Graham III, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of New York, Columiba Universit, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
