headlice March 21st, 2007

Louse infestation is a continuous problem in our society today.  While head lice are the most common and well known infestation, there are also body lice and pubic lice.  Head lice have reached the severity of an epidemic across the United States, but body lice and pubic lice are just as much of a concern. 

Body lice are known to infest clothing, as they lay their eggs on the fibers in the fabric seams.  Head lice and public lice are similar in that they infest hair, laying their eggs in hair fibers.  All three types of louse take blood meals by piercing the skin of the individual with their narrow mouthparts.  While there are several similarities between the three kinds of louse, there are several differences as well.

First off, the frequency and who they infest differs from each louse.  Head lice are an extreme problem, especially in urban areas, that is becoming far too common amongst our society.  Major infestations are common in socioeconomic groups because of how easily they spread.  They are extremely common in schools with younger children because parents are reluctant to tell anybody about their child's problem.