What Increases Your Risk

Factors that increase the risk of getting lice include:

• Attending school or day care. Young children in school or day care often play together closely and share hats, brushes, and other items. This behavior puts them at a higher risk for getting and transmitting head lice.
• Living in crowded or unclean conditions. People who live in crowded conditions and who do not or cannot bathe and wash their clothing regularly (such as people who are homeless, victims of war or natural disasters, or refugees) are at increased risk for body lice.
• Having many sex partners, which increases the risk for pubic lice.