Facts About Lice
About Head Lice: What Are Head Lice? Head Lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, are six-legged, parasitic insects that live on the human head and feed on human blood. The Center for Disease Control estimates that as many as 12 million people (mostly children) in the United States get head lice each year. Learning The Lingo There are three forms of head lice. Louse is the term used to describe an adult. An adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed and tan to grayish-white in color. Adult lice may live up to 30 days on a person’s head, and the female can lay between 100 to 200 eggs during that lifespan. 
Nit is the term for a louse egg. They are very hard to see and may be confused with hair spray droplets or dandruff. Nits are oval and usually yellow to white. Nymph is the term for a newly hatched baby louse. It differs from an adult louse only in size. Nymphs mature into adults in about 7 days. Dispelling The Head Lice Myth Head Lice are not caused by a lack of hygiene or proper sanitation. Head Lice are not able to jump or fly, and so are passed only by head-to-head contact, or by the sharing of combs, hats, and other hair accessories. Due to their need to maintain body heat, head lice cannot survive at room temperature for more than about 24 hours. Head Lice are not known to transmit infectious agents from person to person. In fact, the Harvard School of Medicine suggests that the greatest harm associated with head lice comes from the use of caustic or toxic substances in their elimination. How Do I Know If I Have Them? Although lice themselves are not dangerous from a medical standpoint, they should not be allowed to remain on the human body. The severe itching caused by an allergic reaction to lice can lead to scratching which can break the skin and lead to sores that may become infected. While an itching, tickling sensation is the most common initial sign of lice infestation, unusual irritability or sleeplessness (due to itching) in children is also common. Rare but sometimes present are a slight fever, a diffuse rash, and headaches. If these symptoms occur, it is a simple process of combing carefully through the hair to determine infestation. If a live nymph of adult is found on the scalp or hair, or if nits are found within 1/4 inch of the scalp, treatment is needed. “No Nit” Policies Many school systems have adopted some form of the “no nit” policy. In general, these policies state that any student having lice will not be permitted to attend school until it is verified that the lice have been fully treated and removed. These policies vary considerably, and it is recommended that you contact your local school system for exacting information. 
Recommended Usage According to the Harvard School of Public Health, head lice are becoming more resistant to permethrin, the most common chemical used in elimination. This is especially true in cases of children who are chronically infested and have been treated with permethrin multiple times. Other pesticides such as malathion and lindane are being considered as treatments, but their direct use on humans remains controversial. Mechanical removal of lice and nits remains the most safe, effective means of treatment, but until now this has been a time consuming proposition. That is because illumination and magnification devices have been awkward to use but necessary in order to see nits. Neon Nits™ spray can be used to identify head lice infestation before they are treated and after the treatment in order to ensure that all of the nits were removed. Neon Nits™ spray provides an economical solution to this problem making mechanical removal easier than ever.