From whom can you catch lice? - briefly
Lice spread primarily through direct head‑to‑head contact with someone who has an active infestation, and secondarily via personal items—combs, hats, pillows, or clothing—that have recently touched an infested scalp. Children in close‑contact settings, such as schools or camps, are the most frequent sources.
From whom can you catch lice? - in detail
Lice are obligate ectoparasites that survive only on a host. Human beings serve as the exclusive reservoir for the three species that infest people: Pediculus humanus capitis (head lice), Pediculus humanus corporis (body lice), and Pthirus pubis (pubic lice). Transmission occurs when viable nymphs or adult insects move from one individual to another or when contaminated objects facilitate their transfer.
Typical sources include:
- Direct head‑to‑head contact, common among children in schools, daycare centers, sports teams, and families.
- Shared personal items such as combs, hats, hairbrushes, scarves, helmets, headphones, or pillowcases.
- Bedding and clothing infested with body lice, especially in crowded or unhygienic environments like shelters, prisons, or military barracks.
- Intimate contact, which can spread pubic lice during sexual activity or through close skin‑to‑skin contact.
- Close proximity in group settings where head lice can crawl between individuals, for example during sleepovers or group travel.
Risk factors that increase susceptibility are:
- Living in densely populated households or institutions.
- Frequent exchange of headgear or hair accessories.
- Inadequate laundering of clothing and bedding at temperatures insufficient to kill lice (below 130 °F/54 °C).
- Lack of regular inspection of hair and scalp, particularly in children who are unable to report itching.
Understanding these transmission pathways enables targeted control measures, such as avoiding the exchange of personal items, maintaining proper laundering protocols, and conducting routine examinations of hair and clothing in high‑risk settings.