Key points
- Lice are parasitic insects found on people's heads and bodies.
- Lice spread by close person-to-person contact.
- The three types of lice affecting humans are head, body, and pubic.
- Both over the counter and prescription medications can treat lice.
Overview
Lice are parasites, or insects, found on people's heads and bodies, including the pubic area. Human lice survive by feeding on human blood. Infestation or infested person means that a person has lice.
Types
There are different types of lice on areas of the body. The three types of lice that live on humans are:
- Head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis)
- Body or clothes louse (Pediculus humanus corporis)
- Pubic or "crab" louse (Pthirus pubis)
Only the body louse can spread disease.