ABSTRACT
EPIDEMIOLOGY Head lice are found most commonly in schoolaged children, typically in late summer and autumn. An estimated 6 million to 12 million infestations occur each year in the United States among children 3-11 years of age. Reported prevalence may be as high as 10-40% in some US schools. White children are more often affected than are black children. Head lice infestations are spread by close person-toperson contact, as the lice crawl and are not capable of jumping or flying. Hair length and personal cleanliness do not impact infestation rates. Animals do not play a role in the transmission of human lice.
