Who is affected by lice infestations

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Who is affected by lice infestations

The number of people who develop lice infestations varies by the specific type:

Head lice outbreaks are common in children in school and day care. Girls are slightly more likely to be infested than boys. Even people who bathe, shampoo their hair, and wash their clothing regularly can get head lice. Having long hair does not increase a person's chance of getting head lice.¹ In North America, blacks are less likely to be infested with head lice than are whites. ²

Pubic lice are common among sexually active teens and young adults.

Body lice are more common among people who do not bathe regularly or who do not wash their clothes often.¹ People who are homeless or who have been victims of war or natural disasters may live in conditions where it is more difficult to bathe and wash clothing regularly, which increases their risk of getting body lice.

While many people are embarrassed about having lice, they can infest people from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds.

References

Citations

1. Mathieu ME, Wilson BB (2005). Lice (pediculosis). In GL Mandell et al., eds., Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 6th ed., pp. 3302–3304. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

2. Burgess I (2005). Head lice. Clinical Evidence (14): 2044–2049.

Credits

Last updated:	November 24, 2006
Author:	Ralph Poore
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC