How you get nits

First of all, head lice do not jump - they have to crawl from head to head. Nits are just the eggs - if you have nits, then you also have lice, because they are what laid the eggs in the first place.

Leaning your head against other children's heads, sharing of clothing, hair ornaments and combs and brushes are ways that they can be spread from one person to another.

That means they are often found on people who live together in the same family, because they may sleep with heads together, or share combs, brushes or hats.

Louse infestations are often discovered by school teachers who are watching for the signs of itching heads and/or frequent scratching, but classmates are not as likely to be infested as are brothers and sisters or close friends that sleep over.

How to keep clear of nits

Remember the advice given in this poem!