For parents, hearing that someone in their child’s classroom has lice is often their worst nightmare. In fact, we often receive phone calls from panicked parents unsure of what course of action to take once they find themselves in this situation. Over the course of many years, we’ve realized that a good deal of their initial concern arises from the uncertainty about how lice is spread. We’ll outline some facts about how lice is actually spread, so that you can be better equipped to treat or prevent them.

Lice Cannot Spread by Jumping

First things first: one of the most important facts for parents to know about head lice is that lice cannot jump. Their only “mode of transportation” is crawling. They have no wings and aren’t capable of jumping, which means that a louse cannot jump from one person’s head onto another.

How Lice is Spread 98% of the Time: Head-to-Head Contact

Because lice cannot fly or jump, they are only spread through direct head-to-head contact. As a result, lice are commonly spread among children who are often in close physical proximity, often with their heads, hair, and clothing touching and being close enough to allow lice to crawl from one to another. It’s also important to note that the spread of lice is not in any way related to personal hygiene (lice are attracted to blood, not dirt and bacteria).

How Lice is Spread in Less than 2% of Cases: Inanimate Objects

Although head-to-head contact accounts for the vast majority of head lice cases, there is an extremely small chance that your child could get lice another way. If you want to cover every possible base, consider the following:

Lice can possibly be spread through the sharing of clothing or accessories that are used on or near the hair. As a result, it’s important to discourage your child from sharing personal items such as hairbrushes, combs, barrettes or ribbons, hats, hair elastics, hair pieces/hair extensions.

Make sure your child has their own equipment, such as helmets, if they participate in sports or athletics. It’s also a good idea to discourage them from sharing towels after shampooing and showering post-game/practice.

Stop the Spread of Lice with Fresh Heads Lice Removal

Understanding how lice is spread is an important key to both prevention and peace of mind. If you suspect your child has lice, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we are committed to empowering our customers with the head lice facts they need in order to safely and quickly eradicate lice. We pride ourselves on being a lice service that your family can rely on to help you safely diagnose, treat, or prevent a full-blown lice infestation. We help you select the most effective lice treatment option so that you and your child can return to normal life as quickly as possible. Contact Fresh Heads Lice Removal today to learn more about our safe and affordable treatment options!

Schools Without Lice

Fresh Heads Lice Removal’s goal is to get rid of lice in schools across the country. Our partnership with Lice Clinics of America for the Schools Without Lice program supports nurses and teachers with free resources, screenings, and treatments. Take another step toward lice-free schools!