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Does Lice Spread Through Shared Hat?

Posted on Tue, 19 Aug 2014

Question: Today I was wearing the umbrella hat I bought online and I took it to work. I work in a summer program with little kids. I am 19. All the kids loved my hat and started asking for it and I let some of them try it and then I put it back on. However a few minutes later I started thinking about lices. Could I have gotten lices by sharing my hat with them? It is not actually a full hat it is a small umbrella with a circular stripe to put it on the head. I am just really scared since I have never had lices and I don't want them. I haven't seen any of the kids ever scratching their heads or heard anything about lices. Should I be worry?

Answered by Dr. Raju A.T (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
Need not worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

Need not worry, it may need more time for the lice to get transferred through the hat. Commonest way for the lice to get transferred is by sleeping together.

As you say you did not see the kids scratching then I believe there is no infestation at al about which you need to worry.

Regards,

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar