Did I really have the political awareness of a head louse?

The head louse lives in the hairs of the head.

It presumably evolved from the head louse after humans lost their body hair and started wearing clothes.

Many societies consider head louse infestation to be normal, if even remarked upon at all.

Two studies have noted clustering of head louse infestation by classroom.

The word may be derived from Malayian kutu, a head louse.

The body louse is somewhat larger but otherwise very like the head louse.

The head louse developed an adaptation, the body louse, which lives in clothing.

One particular specimen case could shock the unwary, as it contained a model, at least 100 times normal size, of a human head louse.

As long as no living lice are detected, the child should be considered negative for head louse infestation.

Despite improvements in medical treatment and prevention of human diseases during the 20th century, head louse infestation remains stubbornly prevalent.

Thus, simply leaving the school vacant for a week or two is sufficient to disinfect all fomite sources of head louse infection.

Research also indicates that citronella oil is an effective repellent for body louse and head louse.

The presence of nits alone, however, is not an accurate indicator of an active head louse infestation.

The female head louse lays shiny yellow eggs and glues them one by one to individual hairs, close to the scalp.

The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) is an obligate ectoparasite of humans.

Head louse, one of the most common parasites of all and once greatly feared as a vector of typhus.

Although itching (pruritus) is a common symptom of head louse infestation, it is a poor criterion upon which to base inspection.

Humans have the distinction of being host to three different kinds: the head louse, the body louse and the pubic louse.

Head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis)

Head louse (often known as "nits" in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand)

The head louse would probably have colonized clothing quite soon after the niche became available - within thousands and tens of thousands of years, Dr. Stoneking said.

Before Sally can be admitted to her new school, she must undergo a physical examination in which the school nurse discovers nits (head louse eggs) in Sally's hair.

Head louse infestation occurs primarily in children, so minimizing transmission in this age group is potentially the most cost-effective way of controlling head lice epidemics.

Though humans may long have worn loose garments like animal skin cloaks, the first tailored clothing would have been close-fitting enough to tempt the head louse to expand its territory.