
About Head Lice | Lice | CDC - Centers for Disease Control and …
Jun 4, 2024 · Head lice, or Pediculus humanus capitis, are parasitic insects that feed on human blood. You can find them mostly on your head, but also on your eyebrows and eyelashes. Adult head lice are roughly 2 – 3 mm long (about the size of a sesame seed).
About Body Lice | Lice | CDC - Centers for Disease Control and …
Jun 24, 2024 · Adult body lice are small, only 2.3 – 3.6 mm in length (about the size of a sesame seed). Improved hygiene and access to regular changes of clean clothes is the only treatment needed for body lice infestations; however, in some cases peduculicides are recommended.
Look for lice crawling on the scalp where the hair is parted or on the hair shaft. The lice will be dark in color and the size of a poppyseed. Look for nits near hair follicle about ¼ inch from scalp. Nits (eggs) will be white or yellowish-brown. Nits are often more easily seen than lice, especially when the person has dark hair.
About Pubic "Crab" Lice | Lice | CDC - Centers for Disease Control …
Jun 4, 2024 · Adult pubic lice are 1.1–1.8 mm in length (size of a pencil tip). Either over-the-counter or prescription medications can treat pubic lice infestations. Infestation or infested person means that a person has lice.
CDC - DPDx - Pediculosis
Although body lice are usually found on the torso, and head lice are found on the head and face, both species may change location. Adult females are approximately 3-4 mm long; males are slightly smaller.
CDC - DPDx - Pthiriasis
Adult pubic lice (Pthirus pubis) measure 1.5-2.0 mm long and are dorsoventrally-flattened. Adults are much broader in comparison to head and body lice. The second and third legs have a large modified claw with a thumb-like projection, used for grasping on to hair shafts.
Treatment of Head Lice | Lice | CDC - Centers for Disease Control …
Nov 12, 2024 · You can treat head lice with medications (pediculicides) that are either over-the-counter or by prescription. Some medicines kill lice and eggs; retreatment is usually not required for these. Other medicines kill lice but are not effective at …
About Lice | Lice | CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sep 4, 2024 · Lice are parasitic insects found on people's heads and bodies. Lice spread by close person-to-person contact. The three types of lice affecting humans are head, body, and pubic. Both over the counter and prescription medications can treat lice.
Providing Care for Individuals with Head Lice | Lice | CDC
Feb 21, 2024 · If you find crawling lice or nits, examine all household members for head lice every 2 – 3 days. Treat anyone with live (crawling) lice or nits within ¼ inch or less of the scalp. Head lice information for schools. CDC's guidance has not changed—you do not need to send students with head lice infestation home early from school.
Site Index | Lice | CDC
Lice are parasites, or insects, found on people's heads and bodies, including the pubic area. Human lice survive by feeding on human blood. Infestation or infested person means that a person has lice.