What Are the Symptoms of Lice?
Lice are tiny, wingless parasitic insects. They live for about a month and require blood in order to survive. Without blood meals, they die within a few days.
There are three types of lice that infest humans:
The symptoms and signs of lice will vary based on the type of lice infestation.
Head Lice Signs and Symptoms
The most common symptom of head lice is itching. This is because the saliva of head lice causes an allergic reaction. Keep in mind that not everyone with head lice will have symptoms.
Head lice can be anywhere on the scalp, but most commonly are seen behind the ears and on the back of the head near the neckline. When looking at the scalp, very few head lice are usually seen. This is because they move very quickly. However, there are usually many nits (lice eggs) at the base of the scalp.
Symptoms and Signs of Pubic Lice
The most common symptom of pubic lice is frequent intense itching.
Pubic lice are generally found in the genital area on pubic hair, but may occasionally be found on other coarse body hair, such as hair on the legs, armpits, mustache, beard, eyebrows, or eyelashes. Infestations of pubic lice affecting young children are usually on the eyebrows or eyelashes.
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