<unk> , also known as pediculosis capitis, is the infection of the<unk>  hair and scalp by the<unk>  louse (Pediculus humanus capitis). Itching from<unk>  bites is common. During a person's first infection, the itch may not develop for up to six weeks. If a person is infected again, symptoms may begin much more quickly. The itch may cause problems with sleeping. Generally, however, it is not a serious condition. While<unk> <unk>  appear to spread some other diseases in Africa, they do not appear to do so in Europe or North America.<unk> <unk>  are spread by direct contact with the hair of someone who is infected. The cause of<unk> s are not related to cleanliness. Other animals, such as cats and dogs, do not play a role in transmission.<unk> <unk>  feed only on human blood and are only able to survive on human<unk>  hair. When adults, they are about 2 to 3 mm long. When not attached to a human, they are unable to live beyond three days. Humans can also become infected with two other<unk>  – the body louse and the crab louse. To make the diagnosis, live<unk>  must be found. Using a comb can help with detection. Empty eggshells (known as nits) are not sufficient for the diagnosis. Possible treatments include: combing the hair frequently with a fine tooth comb or shaving the<unk>  completely. A number of topical medications are also effective, including malathion, ivermectin, and dimethicone. Dimethicone, which is a silicone oil, is often preferred due to the low risk of side effects. Pyrethroids such as permethrin have been commonly used; however, they have become less effective due to increasing pesticide resistance. There is little evidence for alternative medicines.<unk> s are common, especially in children. In Europe, they infect between 1 and 20% of different groups of people. In the United States, between 6 and 12 million children are infected a year. They occur more often in girls than boys. It has been suggested that historically,<unk> <unk>  infection were beneficial, as they protected against the more dangerous body louse. Infestations may cause stigmatization of the infected individual.
Head lice infestation
Cat bite
Spider bite
Centipede bite
Onychomadesis
Dental plaque
Dog bite
Tick infestation