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Pediculus humanus capitis, commonly known as the head louse, spend its entire lifetime on the human scalp. The louse feeds on human blood, because humans are the sole hosts of lice. A female louse lays 50-150 eggs, or nits, during its four-week life. When the egg hatches, it become a first-stage nymph. After passing through two more stages as a nymph, it becomes a male or female adult.

Adult head lice copulate frequently and the females lay an average of 3-4 eggs daily. A generation lasts for about 1 month. All stages are blood-feeders and they bite the skin 4-5 times daily to feed. During oviposition the female excretes a glue-like substance from a gland located at the posterior end of the body and attaches the eggs on the hair of the host. Although any part of the scalp may be colonized, lice favor the nape of the neck and the area behind the ears, where the eggs are usually laid.

The most common symptom of infestation is pruritus on the head, which typically will intensify about 3 to 4 weeks after the initial infestation occurs. Bite reactions are generally mild and can seldom be seen between the hairs. The bites themselves are sometimes visible, especially on the neck of people with long hair. In rare instances, individuals who scratch the itchy bites too much can develop secondary infections with impetigo and pyoderma. Swelling in the lymph nodes and fevers are rare complications. Head lice are not believed to transmit pathogenic microorganisms.

So how does one get rid of head lice? That is a tough question to answer considering there is no 100% method to get all of the eggs after one treatment. Some of the methods used include chemical treatments, hot air, combs, head shaving, etc. Using kerosene (alone or used with oil and vinegar), hair bleach and dyes, antibiotics, or ivermectin for lice treatment, or using garlic and Vitamin B to prevent lice.

No matter much you might try to comb them out, kill them with chemical solutions, or just scratch away, head lice persistently maintain a strong grip on the scalp. What's worse, they are increasingly becoming resistant to common treatment methods. Scientific estimates say that as many as 80 per cent of lice are immune to common over the counter treatments. Lice have been found to be unfazed by permathrin and phenothrin, chemicals contained in some popular remedies.

Not much can be done by us to treat head lice infection. It is well known that prevention is the best cure. By the experts opinion it is assumed that the insects have becomes resistant to the lotions due to the process of natural selection. And these findings will not just leave children, parents and teachers scratching their heads but will certainly give a direction to discover a better lotion for getting the job done.

Pediculus humanus capitis, commonly known as the head louse, spend its entire lifetime on the human scalp. A lice generation typically lasts for one month. Head lice are not believed to transmit pathogenic microorganisms. How to get rid of lice?Well that is a tough question because there is practically no product in the market, which kills 100% of the eggs after a single treatment.Various methods used include chemical treatment,hot air, combs, shaving the head,dimeticone etc. It is not recommended to use kerosene (alone or in combination with oil and vinegar), hair bleaches and dyes, antibiotics or ivermectin for treatment and garlic and Vitamin B for prevention.