• Up to 30% of all Primary school aged kids in Australia get head lice at least one a year*

• Head lice prefer clean hair over dirty hair

• 'Super lice' have become resistant to common over the counter treatments and pesticides

• Selfies are assisting head lice to spread

A head louse has six claws that allow it to crawl around from hair strand to hair strand.  It can move from one head to another this way, which is why head-to-head contact is the primary way head lice are spread between people, mainly children.  This typically happens when they sit or play together in close proximity.  Lice eggs cannot move and are not transmissible.

Head lice are rarely transmitted via a shared comb, hat or helmet.  Clothing, stuffed animals, theatre seats and other items are not threats to spreading head lice.  Bathing every day will not prevent or wash away head lice and cleaning the home or bagging toys and clothing won't help you prevent or get rid of head lice.

Nits are lice eggs.  Nits look like tiny yellow, tan or brown dots before they hatch.  Lice lay nits on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping warm until they hatch.  Nits look similar to dandruff, only they can't be removed by brushing or shaking them off.  

Although much smaller than lice, nits are often easier to spot on the head because they are 'glued' to the hair and can't crawl away.  After hatching, the remaining shell looks white or clear and stays firmly attached to the hair shaft.

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