Pediculosis may be divided into the following types:[3]: 446–8 [4] Head-lice infestation is most frequent on children aged 3–10 and their families.

[7] Those of African descent rarely experience infestation due to differences in hair texture.

[citation needed] The number of diagnosed cases of human louse infestations (or pediculosis) has increased worldwide since the mid-1960s, reaching hundreds of millions annually.

These methods include chemical treatments, natural products, combs, shaving, hot air, silicone-based lotions, and ethanol (ethyl alcohol).

[14] About 14 million people, mainly children, are treated annually for head lice in the United States alone.

[15] High levels of louse infestations have also been reported from all over the world including Denmark, Sweden, U.K., France and Australia.

[16][17] Normally head lice infest a new host only by close contact between individuals, making social contacts among children and parent child interactions more likely routes of infestation than shared combs, brushes, towels, clothing, beds or closets.