Infestations are not exactly infections, but they are a health problem a lot like an infection.  Infestation means invasion of the human body with lice, mites or ticks.  These insects can cause an infection when they bite through the skin.  When the infested person scratches a lot, germs from the hands or skin get inside the body through the scratch marks and cause infection.  The insects are tiny and have a short life cycle so they can multiply rapidly without the person being aware he or she infested.  Children often get infested.  The infesting insects move around by crawling.  They do not have wings or legs capable of jumping so they cannot fly or jump from one person to another.
HEAD LICE (lice = more than one insect and louse = one insect)
The head louse chooses the scalp and hair to make its home.  It likes the warm temperature in this part of the body.  It bites the scalp and feeds on tiny bits of human blood.  The female lays eggs, called nits, and attaches them to individual hairs with a special glue until they hatch.  She lays about 6-8 eggs per day.  They hatch in 7-10 days.  Lice live for only 20-30 days.

How do you get infested?  Head lice are usually passed from one person to another by contact with the hair.  You can also become infested from sharing combs, brushes, towels, hair ribbons, or hats with a person who has lice or from sleeping on the same bedding or sheets.  To avoid getting infested with head lice, don’t share personal items like combs and brushes with another person who might have head lice.  Since it is difficult to tell if someone is infested without looking very closely at his or her scalp, it’s best to use only your own hair care items.  If you do get head lice, a special shampoo can be used to kill the lice and their eggs.
BODY LICE
Body lice are passed from one person to another usually by clothing.  The females lay their eggs in the seams of clothing that hasn’t been washed regularly.  To prevent getting body lice, you should wash your body and clothing regularly and never share clothes with other infested people.
SCABIES
Scabies is a skin infestation caused by an insect, called the “itch mite”.  Scabies is spread by touching another person who is infested.  The usual places for the itch mite to live are between the fingers, on the feet, in the arm pits or other warm places on the body.  Also avoid touching or holding hands with anyone who has scabies until the “itch mites” are all gone.  To prevent getting scabies or other infestations, wash your hands well and often, shampoo your hair regularly, wear clean clothes and don’t wear other kids’ clothes.

Infestations

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