Head lice (Pediculosis capita) are tiny (up to 3 mm), tan/grey-white/black wingless insects that cling to hairs and suck blood from the scalp. Female lice glue their eggs to the base of hair shafts. Eggs hatch to leave empty white shells (‘nits’) stuck tightly to the hair, which cannot be easily brushed out. Adult lice walk from one head to another during close head-to-head contact. They can infect anyone with hair but most often children aged 4–11 years.
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Key links
NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries: Head Lice
