Myths and truths about the lice of children

Lice do not transmit diseases, are not transmitted to animals, and do not jump or fly . If someone has passed you information like this, do not consider it. They are wrong. They are part of a lot of myths and truths that exist about lice , and that only serve to increase the doubts and fears of pare

Lice do not transmit diseases, are not transmitted to animals, and do not jump or fly. If someone has passed you information like this, do not consider it. They are wrong. They are part of a lot of myths and truths that exist about lice, and that only serve to increase the doubts and fears of parents when they discover that one of their children or all have lice.

Lice are very small parasites that inhabit the heads of humans. To live and develop they feed on small amounts of blood from the scalp, and to reproduce they leave their eggs (nits) in their hair. The louse has six legs and not eight as they say.

Trivia about lice

- The color of the louse varies from beige to gray, adapting to the color of the hair that it spreads. Its color becomes darker after it is fed. And it is usually located behind the ears or on the nape of the neck.

- The females reproduce eggs quickly, up to ten a day.

- Eggs are attached to human hair by a substance similar to glue and is very resistant to water.

- The incubation of the eggs usually lasts from 8 to 10 days. When the lice are born (the nymphs), as they grow they move away from the hair root. They become adults after 10 days of birth. An adult louse usually lives up to 30 days in a human head.

- Head lice are the second most common condition among children. It is only surpassed by common colds.

Myths about lice

- Lice jump: Lice are insects that do not jump or fly. Just walk, quickly. They can pass from one head to another very easily, through contact or some garment.

- Lice are a disease: Head lice are not a disease nor do they pose risks to public health.

- The nits get infected: The nits are not contagious. Only the lice.

- Lice live many days outside the head: Lice can live outside of a head for up to 24 hours. So they can spread through cushions, pillows, armchairs, etc.

- Lice drown:Lice are resistant to water. You can get lice in a pool.

- Lice are a sign of dirt: Lice are not contagious due to lack of hygiene. They like dirty hair as much as clean hair. So you do not have to be ashamed of not having lice and of not reporting a case of lice and thus preventing them from spreading. Anyone can have lice.

- Lice go to long hair: Girls get more lice, not because they tend to have longer hair, but because they usually have more physical contact between friends.

- Dogs transmit lice: Animal lice are not transmitted to people.

- It stings the head because they bite: The cause of the itching caused by the lice is not from their bites but from the saliva they inject to feed themselves.

If you want to know more about lice we have prepared a series of videos of lice and pediculosis with an expert who will give you a lot of information