Lice suck blood

Although head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, are globally prevalent blood-sucking ectoparasites, the amount of blood imbibed by head lice has not been determined. This study investigated this parameter, as regular loss of a small quantity of blood may lead to an iron deficiency and anaemia. Adult female lice 66 , adult males 46 , and nymphs were weighed before and after feeding in groups of lice. The average amounts of blood imbibed at a single feed were: adult female louse 0. Assuming three feeds per day by an average infection of 30 lice 10 females, 10 males, and 10 nymphs , the average child with active pediculosis would loose 0. This amount of blood loss is of no clinical significance even in iron-deficient children.

Lice are parasites that live on the skin. Most are harmless to overall health, but they cause tiny bites, which can be bothersome. There are two kinds of lice: chewing lice, which feed on the skin and debris, and sucking lice, which feed on the blood. Only sucking lice live on humans. Types include head lice, pubic lice , and body lice.

The amount of blood drunk by a head louse in a single feeding session is very small - from 0. This equates to: blood per day ml or blood per week ml or blood per year ml. Quantification of blood intake of the head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis. International Journal of Dermatology ; Looking directly into the mouth of a head louse.

A louse is a parasite say: PAR-uh-site , which means it feeds off of other living things. Lice the word for more than one louse are about the size of a sesame seed, and are tan to gray in color. Lice need to suck a tiny bit of blood to survive, and they sometimes live on people's heads and lay eggs in the hair , on the back of the neck, or behind the ears. It's very easy for a person with lice to give it to someone else when they come into close head-to-head contact with each other. Sometimes, lice can be transmitted by friends sharing things that have touched the hair, such as combs, brushes, hats, and headphones.