Basic Summary for Head lice

Main name of condition: Head lice
Other names or spellings: Pediculus humanus lice, pediculosis, phthiriasis

What is Head lice?
  Brief description of Head lice: Small lice infesting the hair and head.
  Parent types of Head lice: Insect parasite conditions, Lice, Hair conditions, Louse-borne diseases, Pediculosis, Head Conditions
  Organs Affected by Head lice: head, hair

How serious is Head lice?
Complications of Head lice: see complications of Head lice

What causes Head lice?
Class of Condition for Head lice: parasite insect

What are the symptoms of Head lice?
Symptoms of Head lice: see symptoms of Head lice

Can anyone else get Head lice?
Contagion of Head lice: Spread by direct contact with hair or objects such as hats, combs, headphones, etc.
More information: see contagiousness of Head lice

How is it treated?
  Treatments for Head lice: see treatments for Head lice
  Prevention of Head lice: see prevention of Head lice
  Research for Head lice: see research for Head lice

Society issues for Head lice
Hospitalization statistics for Head lice: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Head lice:

0.0009% (113) of hospital consultant episodes were for pediculosis and phthiriasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
94% of hospital consultant episodes for pediculosis and phthiriasis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
12% of hospital consultant episodes for pediculosis and phthiriasis were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
88% of hospital consultant episodes for pediculosis and phthiriasis were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
58% of hospital consultant episodes for pediculosis and phthiriasis required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
3 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for pediculosis and phthiriasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
1 days was the median length of stay in hospitals for pediculosis and phthiriasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
12 was the mean age of patients hospitalised for pediculosis and phthiriasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
11% of hospital consultant episodes for pediculosis and phthiriasis occurred in 15-59 year olds in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
2% of hospital consultant episodes for pediculosis and phthiriasis occurred in people over 75 in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
25% of hospital consultant episodes for pediculosis and phthiriasis were single day episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
0.0004% (227) of hospital bed days were for pediculosis and phthiriasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)

Last revision: Oct 28, 2003

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

Medical Articles: