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Head Lice
Head lice checks are available for all
the residents of the county. Each individual, to be checked, is
required to fill out the necessary paperwork before examination. There is no fee for checking for head
lice.
What are head lice?
The head louse, or Pediculus humanus capitis (peh-DICK-you-lus
HUE-man-us CAP-ih-TUS), is a parasitic insect that can be found on
the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes of people. Head lice feed on human
blood several time a day and live close to the human scalp. Head
lice are not known to spread disease.
Who is at risk for getting head
lice?
Head lice are found worldwide. In the United States, infestation
with head lice is most common among preschool children attending
child care, elementary school children, and the household members of
infested children. Although reliable data on how many people in the
United States get head lice each year are not available, an
estimated 6 million to 12 million infestations occur each year in
the United States among children 3 to 11 years of age. In the United
States, infestation with head lice is much less common among
African-Americans than among persons of other races, possibly
because the claws of the of the head louse found most frequently in
the United States are better adapted for grasping the shape and
width of the hair shaft of other races.
Head lice move by crawling; they cannot hop or fly. Head lice are
spread by direct contact with the hair of an infested person. Anyone
who comes in head-to-head contact with someone who already has head
lice is at greatest risk. Spread by contact with clothing (such as
hats, scarves, coats) or other personal items (such as combs,
brushes, or towels) used by an infested person is uncommon. Personal
hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with
getting head lice.
http://www.cdc.gov/lice/head/
http://www.cdc.gov/lice/head/treatment.html
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