This section contains information on how people catch head lice.
Head lice don't jump & they don't have wings, so they can't fly. There are really only two ways you can catch head lice:
- Direct "head-to-head" contact with a person who has head lice.
- Sharing an affected item e.g. hat, brush/comb, hair clip.
This is why head lice tend to affect children more than adults - children, by the very way they interact socially, are more likely to "touch heads" with their friends & share around personal items like hats, combs & hairclips.
Many people worry that head lice can be caught from "common areas" such as lounge & car seats. The likelihood of this occurring is very low. Head lice are "heat-seeking" insects, & will generally not leave the head at all, unless of course, it is to move to a better looking head (!) Even if they do happen to land on your lounge, carpets or car seats, they will not last longer than 48 hours off the head.
For more information, see Facts About Head lice.
