Where do lice appear? - briefly
Lice inhabit the hair or feathers and skin of their specific hosts, including human scalps, body hair and clothing for body lice, and the plumage of birds.
Where do lice appear? - in detail
Lice infestations concentrate on specific human body regions and associated items. Head‑dwelling species reside on the scalp, attaching eggs (nits) to hair shafts near the skin. They require a temperature of 30‑35 °C and a moist environment to survive, making the scalp ideal. Body‑dwelling lice inhabit clothing, especially seams and pockets, and lay eggs on fabric fibers. They move to the skin only to feed, and their development is linked to the presence of worn garments and infrequent laundering. Pubic or crab lice colonize coarse hair in the genital area, perianal region, and occasionally chest or facial hair. Their claws are adapted to grasp thicker hair shafts, and they spread through close physical contact or contaminated textiles.
Typical locations where lice are encountered include:
- Scalp hair of children and adults
- Clothing seams, underwear, socks, and bedding
- Pubic, perianal, and other coarse body hair
- Shared personal items such as combs, hats, and towels
- Animal hosts (e.g., birds, mammals) for species that specialize in non‑human hosts
Environmental factors that favor infestation are high humidity, limited hygiene practices, and close‑quarter living conditions. Transmission occurs through direct head‑to‑head contact, sharing of contaminated items, or contact with infested clothing and bedding. Effective control targets the specific habitat: thorough hair combing and insecticidal treatment for scalp infestations; washing, drying, or discarding infested garments for body lice; and personal hygiene combined with treatment of affected hair regions for pubic lice.