Health Conditions

What causes it?

Lice are spread only by direct contact with an object or person infected with lice or their eggs. Eggs hatch in about one week. Lice can't fly or walk on the ground and they typically die after losing contact with the human body for two days. They spread by:

• Head-to-head or body-to-body contact. This may occur as children or family members play or interact closely together.

• Close proximity of stored belongings. Storing clothing next to each other in closets, lockers or on side-by-side closet hooks at school, or storing personal items such as pillows, blankets, combs and stuffed toys in close proximity at home can permit lice to spread.

• Sharing items. These may include clothing, headphones, brushes, combs, hair decorations, towels, blankets, pillows and stuffed toys.

• Contact with contaminated furniture. Lying on a bed, or sitting in furniture can spread lice. Head lice live for up to two days off the body.

• Sexual contact. All three forms of lice can spread in this manner.