Lice infestation

What is a louse?

A louse (plural lice) is a small insect that lives on humans hair and clothing and can be seen with the naked eye. Lice are well camouflaged and reflect the color of the surroundings.

The medical term for a infection or infestation with lice it is called pediculosis.

Lice are ectoparasites that live on the human body. They are wingless and have six legs to which are attached strong claws that they use to firmly grasp hair shafts or fibers of clothing. With their penetrating mouthparts they pierce the skin to feed on human blood. They also inject an itchy saliva. Lice can survive for up to 10 days without feeding if they shed their humans host.

There are three types of lice that infest humans.

• Pediculus humanus var. capitis - lice
• Pediculus humanus var. corporis - body lice
• Phthirus pubis - pubic lice

Lice, the most common infestation in humans, are colloquially known as lice, and their eggs are called nits. Pubic lice are smaller than the other two species and have a short, crab-like body, hence the common name for pubic lice, 'crabs'.