The District laboratory works with local public schools to
provide training and guidance on preventing, identifying, and
managing head lice in schools.
The tiny parasitic insects known as head lice
can infest the head and neck area and attach
their eggs to the base of the hair shaft. Head lice do
not cause disease, but they can itch and irritate the
scalp, leading to scratching and potential bacterial infection.
This tiny head louse nymph hatched from a nit collected from a
child’s head by a member of our laboratory staff.
Notice how its feet are equipped with tiny hooks (tarsi) used to
grip the hair shaft. That’s why it’s impossible to shampoo lice
out – they must be combed out with a special louse comb.
