If death and taxes are the two certainties in life, a third one might as well be the presence of bugs in our life and the ability of the world’s smallest creatures to drive us crazy.

“As much as we humans try to control the world we live in, bugs are here to show us that we can only go so far,” said Bryan. “By their sheer number, they can, and will, affect our lives for good and ill. They are tiny, but mighty. They are opportunistic and can live anywhere.”

Bugs typically fall into one of two categories – bugs that infect items, like bed bugs, and bugs that infest people, such as lice.

Lauren Bryan, infection prevention program manager at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, dives deeper into the world of lice, below.

What are the signs of lice?

The most common symptom of lice is itching and scratching on the scalp, which results from our body’s allergic reaction to the bites. While most people will feel something moving in their hair, others might not have any symptoms. Lice avoid light and are difficult to see. To make it easier to see them, part the hair and look for nits, or lice eggs, close to the scalp. You may also see some behind the ears or on the back of the neck.

What is the difference between lice, nits and nymphs?

Nits are lice eggs and take about six to nine days to hatch. Once they hatch, baby lice, called nymphs, are the size of a pinhead and take seven days to mature into adult lice. Adult lice live for 30 days and must feed at least every two days on human blood or they die.

How do lice spread?

“They can’t jump or fly, but need to have direct contact, usually hair follicle to hair follicle, or by sharing a brush, hair tie, hat, scarf, pillow or even a stuffed animal,” said Bryan.

How can you prevent your child from getting lice at school or daycare?

“Keep reminding your child not to share brushes or hats with others,” said Bryan. “If lice are going around at school, do a head check of your child when they come home.”

Can adults get lice?

Yes. Lice can be spread through all members of a family. While adults typically don’t share brushes and items of clothing like children, if kids bring it home, everyone in the household needs to be checked, and then treated if infected.

My child has lice. What do I do?

Purchase an over-the-counter lice treatment and follow the instructions. Using a fine-tooth comb, remove any dead or remaining live lice. Continue checking for any newly hatched lice every two to three days for the next two to three weeks. Prescription treatments are also available if you find the OTC treatments aren’t working.

Do I need to use more than one treatment on my child?

Maybe. It depends on what type of treatment you bought, Bryan said, as some treatments kill both adult lice and eggs and only require one use, while others do not kill eggs and require a second treatment seven to 10 days after the first one.

Should everyone in the household be treated even if they don’t appear to have lice?

Only treat if there are signs of being infected.

What is the best treatment?

The best treatment is the one that you’ve used correctly, she said. Pay attention to directions on how long to leave the treatment on and how to wash it out. It’s important to note that longer and thicker hair often requires two bottles of treatment.

I treated my child’s hair. Now what?

Wash all recently worn clothes, linens, towels and sheets in hot water that is at least 130 degrees. Dry items with hot heat. For items that cannot be washed and dried, seal the item in a plastic bag for two weeks until any eggs have had the chance to hatch, mature and die. Vacuum furniture and carpet, although Bryan said shampooing is not necessary.

How long can lice live on objects or clothing?

Adult lice can only live for two days without feeding before they die, but eggs can live up to two weeks until hatching, which is why you might need to re-treat your child’s scalp all the eggs weren’t killed in the first treatment.

Does chlorine from a pool kill lice?

No. Lice can survive being underwater, and chlorine does not kill them.

Can lice be passed to pets?

No.

Mary Gay Broderick writes for UCHealth. She can be reached at marygaybroderick@comcast.net.