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What's to blame for an increase in head lice? Selfies, study says

<i>Image via Getty</i>
Image via Getty

Children who use smartphones have doubled their chances of catching head lice, a new study has shown.

Experts say the correlation is because groups of children huddle around phone screens to watch videos or take photos.

The intimate nature of selfies make it easier for the parasites to move from head to head and has become a key factor in growing number of infestation cases recently reported.

A British study found that 62 per cent of children with a tablet or smartphone picked up head lice, compared with just 30 per cent of those who didn’t own a device.

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Lice clinic specialist, Michael Lawless, says that older students also have an increased risk of catching lice than in previous years.

“We have teenagers with their heads touching to pose for selfies, much more than we’ve seen previously, it’s making the lice problem a problem a lot more widespread,” he said.

<i>Image via Getty</i>
Image via Getty

“Girls are definitely more at risk than boys because lice can’t jump, so they have to be transmitted through head touching.

“Girls are more likely to be hugging each other ‘good morning’ at the school gate which increases the chances as well.”

The insect grows to 3.5mm and takes a mere 10 days to start laying eggs of its own.

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While there’s no easy prevent head lice, Lawless says vigilance is key.

“Parents need to be prepared by regularly checking their child’s head for lice as only about 30 per cent of people actually itch their head so sometimes it’s not obvious,” he said.

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