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Head-Lice in Long Island.
Infestation with head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) is most common among preschool- and elementary school-age children and their household members and caretakers.
What Every Parent in Long Island
Needs to Know About Head Lice
Facts, Myths & Prevention Tips for Families in Manhasset, Brookville & The Hamptons
Head lice do not transmit diseases, but they can cause secondary skin infections from excessive scratching. When lice infestations are not treated properly, constant itching can break the skin, leaving it vulnerable to bacterial infections.
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Lice and Cleanliness: The Truth
Having head lice has nothing to do with poor hygiene or the cleanliness of your home. Even in the most pristine households in Old Westbury, Roslyn Estates, or Sands Point, lice can find their way onto a child’s scalp.
How Do Lice Spread in Long Island?
The primary way lice spread is through direct head-to-head contact, especially among children. This happens frequently during:
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Playdates in parks and playgrounds
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School activities at private schools
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Sports teams
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Slumber parties
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Summer camps
Can You Get Lice from Objects?
While less common, lice can also spread through shared personal items, such as:
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Hats, scarves, or sports uniforms worn by someone with lice
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Combs, brushes, and hair accessories
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Bedding, pillows, or stuffed animals recently used by an infested person
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How Common Are Head Lice in Long Island?
In the United States, an estimated 6 to 12 million lice infestations occur each year in children ages 3 to 11. This means lice are incredibly common, even where families invest heavily in health and wellness.
Fun Fact: Studies suggest girls are more likely to get head lice than boys, primarily because of longer hair and more frequent head-to-head contact during playtime and sleepovers.
Are Certain Hair Types More Susceptible to Lice?
Research shows that head lice in the U.S. have claws adapted for gripping certain types of hair. As a result, lice infestations are less common in African-American children compared to children with straight or wavy hair textures.
Lice Prevention Tips for Long Island Families
Whether you live in Roslyn Estates, Oyster Bay Cove, or The Hamptons, proactive prevention can reduce the risk of head lice:
✅ Teach children to avoid head-to-head contact during play and group activities
✅ Avoid sharing personal items like hats, hairbrushes, and headphones
✅ Check your child’s hair regularly after camp, sleepovers, or sports events
✅ If lice are detected, act quickly with professional lice removal services like Bye-Bye Pesky Lice – Long Island
Expert Lice Removal in Long Island
If you discover lice, don’t panic. Families trust Bye-Bye Pesky Lice for safe, discreet, in-home lice treatment. Our professional lice technicians provide chemical-free removal that’s effective for all hair types.
📞 Call us at 7326410619 or Book Online for same-day service
in Long Island, including:
Manhasset - Brookville - Centerport - Muttontown - Sagaponack
Lattingtown - Lloyd Harbor - Old Westbury - The Hamptons - Roslyn Estates
Oyster Bay Cove - Sands Point
Disease
Head lice are not known to transmit any disease and therefore are not considered a health hazard.
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Head lice infestations can be asymptomatic, particularly with a first infestation or when an infestation is light. Itching (“pruritus”) is the most common symptom of head lice infestation and is caused by an allergic reaction to louse bites. It may take 4–6 weeks for itching to appear the first time a person has head lice.
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Other symptoms may include the following:
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A tickling feeling or a sensation of something moving in the hair
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Irritability and sleeplessness
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Sores on the head caused by scratching, which can sometimes become infected with bacteria normally found on a person’s skin.
Biology
Pediculus humanus capitis, the head louse, is an insect of the order Psocodea and is an ectoparasite whose only host are humans. The louse feeds on blood several times daily and resides close to the scalp to maintain its body temperature.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of the head louse has three stages: egg, nymph, and adult.
EGGS
Nits are head lice eggs. They are hard to see and are often confused for dandruff or hair spray droplets. Nits are laid by the adult female and are cemented at the base of the hair shaft nearest the scalp . They are 0.8 mm by 0.3 mm, oval and usually yellow to white. Nits take about 1 week to hatch (range 6 to 9 days). Viable eggs are usually located within 6 mm of the scalp.
NYMPHS
The egg hatches to release a nymph. The nit shell then becomes a more visible dull yellow and remains attached to the hair shaft. The nymph looks like an adult head louse, but is about the size of a pinhead. Nymphs mature after three molts ( , ) and become adults about 7 days after hatching.
ADULTS
The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has 6 legs (each with claws), and is tan to grayish-white. In persons with dark hair, the adult louse will appear darker. Females are usually larger than males and can lay up to 8 nits per day. Adult lice can live up to 30 days on a person’s head. To live, adult lice need to feed on blood several times daily. Without blood meals, the louse will die within 1 to 2 days off the host.
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