Overview

Lice are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that feed on human blood. Lice are easily spread — especially by schoolchildren — through close personal contact and by sharing belongings.

There are three types of lice:

• Head lice. These lice are found on your scalp. They're easiest to see at the nape of the neck and over the ears.
• Body lice. These lice live in clothing and on bedding and move onto your skin to feed. Body lice most often affect people who aren't able to bathe or launder clothing regularly, such as homeless individuals.
• Pubic lice. Commonly called crabs, these lice occur on the skin and hair of the pubic area and, less frequently, on coarse body hair, such as chest hair, eyebrows or eyelashes.

People can have good personal hygiene and still get lice. Unless treated properly, this condition can become a recurring problem.