What are lice?

Also known as: head lice, body lice, pubic lice, lice infestation.

There are three different kinds of lice which live in human hair of the head, pubic area or on the body. They may be few or large in number, known as an infestation. All are common in schoolchildren, highly contagious and spread through close contact, shared clothing, or shared personal items like combs or brushes.


Reviewed by: Sunil U Bochare, M.D.

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM

© 2024 Nicklaus Children's Hospital. All Rights Reserved.