Head lice are parasites that invade millions of households each year. The United States is no different than the rest of the world, with statistics revealing some 12 million cases of lice annually. Second only to the common cold among childhood illnesses, head lice touch all walks of life. Rich, poor, young, old— no person of any class, age, sex, race or ethnicity is resistant to lice. Quickly spreading through entire communities, this six-legged insect has caused schools to shut down, parents to lose jobs, children to feel humiliated and adults to cry.