Human louse: types, characteristics and danger to humans

Human louse - a parasite with a very ancient history. Scientists suggest that these insects accompanied humanity at all stages of its development. The first mention of lice is found in Aristotle, who lived in the IV century BC. The dried corpses of parasites were also found in the very first burials of humans.

The harm caused by these invisible companions of mankind seems to be insignificant. The amount of blood they drink is not so great, however, the itching caused by their bites leads to scratching and infection of the skin. Insects themselves, crawling from one person to another, contribute to the spread of infectious diseases, some of which are deadly.

Types of Human Lice

Head lice, wearable and parasitic parasites on the human body pubic. All of them eat only blood and are not adapted to life in the external environment. Head and body are combined in one species, having the Latin name Pediculus humanus - human louse. They can interbreed and produce viable offspring. Pubic louse in its appearance is significantly different from them and refers to a separate species.

Human lice with a strong increase looks a little creepy, but in reality its dimensions are so small that it is difficult to see an insect with the naked eye. Consider each view separately.

Head louse

Human head louse is found only on the scalp. In men, she can also crawl onto her beard and mustache. This species is the most common and easily transmitted from person to person. You can become infected with head lice as follows:

• through combs, combs and brushes, which a sick person used shortly before;
• in direct contact;
• through bedding;
• when swimming in public water.

Outbreaks of epidemics of lice - lice, are often found in kindergartens, schools, summer camps. This disease is also widespread among people who do not follow basic hygiene rules.

What does head lice look like in a person? Outwardly, these are small insects having an elongated body shape and 6 tenacious paws ending in sharp claws. They help the insect to stay on the surface of the human body. In length, they rarely reach 4 mm and are almost invisible on the head. The inconspicuousness of the parasite is also greatly facilitated by its color - a grayish-brown and sedentary lifestyle.

Head lice live approximately 45-50 days. Of these, 2-3 weeks are spent on the development of the larva, and an adult individual lives for 30-35 days. Eggs are called nits. On the head they look like whitish droplets. Their length, as a rule, does not exceed 2 mm. Females attach them to the hair, at a distance of about 2 cm from the roots. Under favorable conditions, the larva hatches already on the 4th day. In total, the female is able to lay up to 300 eggs in her entire life.

More details from the life of head lice, as well as their photos, a description of the symptoms of head lice and possible ways of infection, you will find in the article: Head lice or head lice.

Interesting fact! In the Middle Ages, lice were called “God's pearls,” since they carried “Christian” blood in their abdomen. A sign of special piety then was considered a refusal to wash throughout life.

Body louse

Wearable body louse is also called worn for its addiction to life on human clothing. In this, it differs from the rest of the species. For the rest, it is very similar to the head one, except that it has a more flat shape and is slightly larger.

What is the color of body lice in humans? The coloring of the body of the parasite that lives on clothing maximally contributes to its disguise. If in the head louse it is grayish-brown, then in the head louse it is more transparent and light. It’s very difficult to just notice it, especially since the parasite has a habit of hiding and leaves only to pump blood. You can find a body louse in the following places:

• in the lapels of the trousers;
• between the seams;
• in pockets;
• behind the lining of clothes;
• under decorative overlays;
• in the folds of linen.

Body parasites are very common in people who are forced to wear dirty laundry for a long time. Especially common is head lice in homeless people. Lice of this species do not tolerate fasting. In the absence of access to food, they die after 4 days. Therefore, to get rid of them, it is enough just to remove the infected clothes and wash the whole body with soap.

The life expectancy of an adult body louse is about 45 days, and the entire development cycle is slightly more than 2 months. Females lay their eggs in the folds of clothes, where the larva develops and the whole life of the parasite passes.

Interesting fact! It is scientifically proven that lice prefer clean hair. In this case, they can quickly get to the blood vessels.

Pubic Louse

Pubic louse is also called a ploshchita for a kind of flattened body shape. It is a bit like a tick, but has a smaller size. Mostly pubic lice live in adults on the hairs of the intimate part of the body, but sometimes they can be found in the armpits, on the stomach and chest. In children, this type of parasite settles on the head.

Occasionally, pubic lice are found on eyelashes and eyebrows. Infection occurs during bathing, when insects fall on the face from the surface of the water in which the sick person has been. However, this is extremely rare, since at the first opportunity insects move to their usual place of residence - pubic hairs.

Habitats for pubic lice:

• intimate area;
• armpits;
• hair on the chest, abdomen and beard in men;
• eyelashes and eyebrows;
• hair on the child’s head.

Pubic lice in humans can appear in the following cases:

• during sexual intercourse;
• in case of sharing a sleeping place with a person infected with lice;
• when swimming in an infected pond.

The body size of an adult insect rarely reaches 2 mm. This is the smallest type of lice. The parasite is almost impossible to discern. Only itching and nits hanging on the hairs can give out a bloodsucker. The shape of his body is also adapted to dwell on the human body. It is flat and round, like bed bugs, but it has an extension to the front and not to the back. For reliable adhesion to the hairs, the parasite has got hooked and strong legs.

Has pubic louse another feature. She is absolutely unable to bear hunger. After a little more than 8 hours without food, the parasite dies. The life expectancy of pubic lice is about 1.5 months.

Advice! The most effective way to get rid of pubic lice is to completely remove hair from an insect-infected area of ​​the body.

The consequences of lice bites

What are lice dangerous for humans? The main nuisance caused to humanity by this type of insect is diseases transmitted through the bite. The most dangerous of them are:

• typhus;
• quintan;
• relapsing fever.

Crawling from one body to another, lice carry the causative agents of these diseases on themselves. When a bite occurs, infection occurs and the person becomes ill.In the case of high crowding and unsanitary conditions, lice can become a source of the epidemic. This is confirmed by many historical facts of human history. According to some reports, during the Russo-Turkish war alone, more soldiers died from typhoid than from bullets and bayonets. And how many people died through the fault of lice for the entire time of human history, one can only guess.

However, not all human lice are so dangerous. Parasites that live on the pubic hairs do not transmit the disease. Head lice are also relatively harmless. The main carriers of dangerous infections are body parasites. They are most prone to migrations and are relatively better adapted to life outside the human body. They also move faster and, unlike other species, actively move in search of a more convenient habitat.

Another unpleasant consequence of a lice bite is itching. It occurs in response to skin irritation by the saliva of the parasite and when it moves through the body. All lice cause itching. Its consequences can be very different, from scratching and infection of the subcutaneous layers, to an allergic reaction, sepsis, and sometimes even nervous exhaustion.

With severe overwaxing, anemia is also possible, since the amount of blood sucked by parasites increases with an increase in their number.

Interesting fact! Lice have not always been harassed by humanity. In ancient Russia they were considered a sign of wealth and prosperity. The absence of insects on the human body was considered a bad sign, portending a disease and an early death.

The danger of lice for humans and other information about these insects can be found in this video: