What are Head Lice?

Head Lice are human parasites and are transmitted by human contact with an infected person. They are not transmitted via animals, including the family pet. The reason why is because head lice, as mentioned earlier, are a human parasite and live off of the consumption of human blood. 

Head Lice are generally small in size (adults can grow as large as a sesame seed) and dark in color (usually brown) making them often times hard to detect. Adult head lice females lay eggs, referred to as Nits as close as possible to the “host's” hair shaft. The female Head Lice can lay up to 150 Nits in their life-cycle. 

The medical term for a case of head lice is Pediculosis, or sometimes referred to as Pediculosis Capitis (infestation of the scalp with Head lice). Head Lice are considered to be contagious as they can be spread from one person to another, but are not considered to be a harmful disease.