Take control of your health. Subscribe to MediResourceís Lice
are tiny parasitic insects that can take up residence in a
number of different places on our body. They are not a serious
medical problem, but they can be annoying and can easily spread
and infect others. Lice have been around for centuries. They
were widespread in Europe up until the last century, and
anthropologists report signs of these annoying intruders among
Egyptian mummies and during the period of the ancient Greeks.
Life for a louse begins as a nit (egg). Nits are commonly found
glued to the base of the hair shaft, frequently behind the ears
or on the nape of the neck. It takes about 5 to 10 days for nits
to hatch and for the light-coloured nymphs to begin feeding
immediately. It takes about 7 or more days for the nymphs to
mature. Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are found in the
hair on the head. They are often spread among school children by
close contact, clothing, or hairbrushes. Head lice can infest
clothing and other items that