ANSWERS: 1
  • Head lice are very small wingless insects that live on the hair and sometimes the eyebrows and lashes, according to Medline Plus. Coming in close contact with someone who has head lice is the main route of transmission.

    Head Contact

    Direct head-to-head contact, as during play, is the most common cause of the transmission of head lice, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Personal Items

    Sharing personal items that touch the head, such as hats, scarves, combs and brushes, barrettes and headphones is, according to the Mayo Clinic, another common mode of transmission.

    Other

    Other, less direct contact may lead to transmission, as through sharing towels, clothing, blankets and pillows and even upholstered furniture, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Risk Factors

    Risk factors for getting lice include living in cramped quarters and being of school age (or living with a schoolchild), according to Medline Plus. The Mayo Clinic also reports that girls are more commonly affected than boys.

    Considerations

    Infestation with head lice does not happen only to people of poor socioeconomic background or to people with poor hygiene, according to both the Mayo Clinic and Medline Plus.

    Source:

    Medline Plus: Head Lice

    Mayo Clinic: Head Lice Causes

    Mayo Clinic: Head Lice Risk Factors

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