What can crawl on the head besides lice? - briefly
Mites of the genus Demodex, which reside in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, frequently crawl on the scalp. Dermatophyte fungal hyphae and occasional crawling insects such as certain lice species or ticks may also be present.
What can crawl on the head besides lice? - in detail
Various arthropods may be found moving across the scalp besides the well‑known head louse.
Demodex mites — Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis — inhabit hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Adults measure 0.2–0.4 mm, invisible to the naked eye, and can cause irritation, erythema, or blepharitis when populations increase.
Ticks of the genus Ixodes occasionally attach to dense hair, especially in outdoor environments. They remain attached for several days, feeding on blood and potentially transmitting pathogens such as Borrelia spp.
Fleas, particularly Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis, may hop onto hair while the host is in close contact with infested animals. Flea bites produce localized pruritus and small erythematous papules.
Scabies mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) can involve the scalp, especially in infants and immunocompromised individuals. The mite burrows within the stratum corneum, creating intense itching and a characteristic papular rash.
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are capable of climbing hair shafts to reach the scalp. They feed nocturnally, leaving behind red welts and possible secondary infection.
Other less common crawlers include:
- Hair lice of other species (e.g., Pediculus humanus body louse) that may transiently move onto hair.
- Mites of the family Pyroglyphidae (house dust mites) that occasionally crawl onto hair when disturbed.
These organisms share common clinical features: pruritus, erythema, and potential secondary infection. Diagnosis relies on microscopic examination of hair shafts, skin scrapings, or visual inspection for live specimens. Effective management involves targeted topical or systemic acaricides and insecticides, combined with environmental decontamination to prevent reinfestation.