Head lice are parasitic insects that cling to strands of hair and survive on blood in the scalp. Lice are contagious and can be spread easily from person to person, but cannot be spread from a pet to a person or from a person to a pet. A female insect is called a louse, and her eggs are called nits. Lice are easiest to detect behind the ears and around the neckline, according to Medline Plus. Other kinds of lice, body lice and pubic lice, are associated with poor hygiene or are transmitted sexually.
Poor Hygiene and Head Lice
It is a misunderstanding that poor hygiene leads to the acquisition of head lice. Lice are extremely contagious and can be spread from person to person during close contact or sharing of brushes, hats or hair ribbons despite the cleanliness of the person or object. Children most often bring lice home after being in day-care centers, schools or camps. These lice also do not spread disease, and they aren't dangerous.
Body Lice
Body lice live on clothing and close to skin, feeding on the body and often spreading disease. Body lice are typically found in areas of crowding and homelessness, camps for refugees and victims of war, where poor hygiene and dirty clothes are problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Body lice can be treated through improving personal hygiene and having access to clean clothes, a difficult problem for poverty-stricken and homeless populations.
Pubic Lice
Pubic lice, also known as crabs, are sexually transmitted and look very dissimilar to head lice, according to the Mayo Clinic. Pubic lice may also be spread through sharing of clothing and bedding. Adults can spread pubic lice to children, often a sign of sexual abuse. These little insects are one of the most common and easily spread sexually transmitted diseases. Hygiene has little to do with the acquisition or spread of lice.
Treatment
Over-the-counter and prescription shampoos are available for the treatment of head lice. Your family physician can direct you to shampoos, lotions or cream rinses that will work well. For body lice, washing clothes and increasing hygiene can help. Medicated lotions and creams can be used for public lice. Other treatments, such as lindane shampoo, should be used only as a last resort, because it has been linked to neurotoxicity.
Complications
Complications can arise from undiagnosed cases of lice or lice left untreated. Infected hives and rashes can occur from scratching. Body lice can cause allergic reactions and intense itching. Scratching body lice bites can create an open wound that could become infected. They can also spread diseases such as epidemic typhus, trench fever and epidemic relapsing fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
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