The head louse is a tiny reddish-brown insect, about 2.5mm long. Head lice cling to the hair and are usually found on the scalp. They live on blood from the human, which they get by biting through the scalp. Lice pass from one person to another during head-to-head contact; they cannot fly, jump or hop. The belief that head lice are associated with poor hygiene and dirty hair is untrue; lice are equally as likely to be found on clean or dirty hair. Bites from head lice can cause intense itching on the scalp, and a rash at the nape of the neck may also develop.
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