Pediculosis, or lice infestation, refers to tiny parasitic insects that feed on human blood. MayoClinic.com notes that three different forms exist: on the head, on the entire body and on the pubic region. Lice appear as wingless insects in these regions, though it is typically difficult to see them. Symptoms of lice infestation can include localized itching and a tickling sensation from the lice moving around, bumps or redness on the infestation site, or the appearance of nits--lice eggs--on hair shafts.
Short Incubation
Head lice infestation is commonly found in school-age children between the ages of 3 and 12. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that nearly 12 million infestations of head lice occur each year. Head lice is so common because of the short incubation time the parasite requires before spreading. The academy explains that a female louse lives up to four weeks and, during that time, lays 10 nits a day. She attaches her eggs to the hair shaft with a glue-like substance she produces. The human body offers optimal incubation conditions, providing warmth for the nit to develop. The egg hatches 14 days after being laid, and the newly hatched lice mate within 12 days, resulting in more eggs. The cycle repeats until the infestation is terminated.
Hygiene and Body Lice
Head lice infestation does not occur because of inadequate hygiene practices. Body lice, however, is a direct result of inadequate hygiene. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that body lice live on the clothing or bedding of individuals in unclean conditions. Females lay their eggs in the seams of clothing rather than on the body. These lice tend to move to the human skin only when feeding is necessary. Body lice can survive for up to seven days off the human body and can transmit communicable diseases. Direct physical contact with an infested individual or clothing can result in the spread of body lice. However, this is more common in transient populations where daily showering and washing practices are not available.
Sexual Contact
Sexual contact is the most common way to spread pubic lice. This type of lice lives in the genital region, feeds on human blood and attaches eggs to the pubic hair shafts. Hygiene is not necessarily related to pubic lice infestation, but those with sexually transmitted diseases are more likely to have pubic lice as well, notes MayoClinic.com. The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that in rare situations, pubic lice is contracted from contaminated toilet seats or linens. The presence of pubic infestation is signified by intense itching in the genital area and, in some cases, other areas with hair, such as armpits or chest.
Contact and Sharing
Lice is contracted from another individual through close contact or through sharing personal items. MayoClinic.com explains that head-to-head or body-to-body contact can shift lice from one person to the next. Using the comb, clothing or bedding of an infected person can also transmit lice. Each type of lice can live off the human body for a short period of time, which makes non-infested individuals susceptible to infestation when exposed to contaminated objects or areas.
