Headlice- please help me test a theory

[birdling]

Musings arising from another thread.

I read somewhere a theory that when baby head lice hatch, the first blood group they drink determines the type they have to drink from then on, otherwise they cannot survive.
I am fortunate enough to have never had head lice, either as a child or an adult and since I'm a primary teacher, I've had plenty of chances to catch them.
My blood group is B positive, so whilst not rare, it is slightly less common.

I was just wondering whether other people who have never had them also have slightly less common blood groups?

I realise that some people with these blood groups will have had them, that's inevitable, but it would be interesting to know whether there is any correlation at all.
You don't need to say your blood group, just whether it is a common one or not.

Thanks for any input.

I've never heard this theory.

I have heard anecdotally that they dislike testosterone which makes it less likely for adult males to catch headline (although obviously not impossible).

I can't remember my blood type but I think it's a common one. I've had lice twice as a child.

I don't think the theory works though, because surely the lice would transfer onto your head and could lay eggs before they die of starvation? Or do you mean the 'wrong' blood will kill them? Either way, if they are ready to lay when they transfer then their hatchling will be fine to bite you and lay more eggs.

I read somewhere a theory that when baby head lice hatch, the first blood group they drink determines the type they have to drink from then on, otherwise they cannot survive.

This is so obviously an urban myth. Headlice only need human blood. They can’t drink cat, dog, bunny rabbit blood. But if it’s human, they’re good to go.

@thinkfast

I've never heard this theory.

I have heard anecdotally that they dislike testosterone which makes it less likely for adult males to catch headline (although obviously not impossible).

Also a myth. The shorter your hair, the less likely you will catch lice. It’s the origin of military buzz cuts too. To prevent lice from spreading.

And guess what, most men today wear their hair short.

Covid and stuck in eradicated them here... Gave ds a mun so less hair to get infested now back at school...

I think there is certainly something that makes beasties go for some and not others. I shared a bed with my Dsis until I was 12. We both had long hair and slept right next to each other. I was constantly getting lice and dsis never had one, not once. Ditto whenever I go anywhere with mosquitoes they absolutely eat me alive but other people I’m with will get one or two bites.

I'm O positive and I've never had them. Headlice seem to love DD1's hair. I've no idea what blood type she is but she has lovely thick straight hair and very different to my frizz so I think it's down to hair type.

B- I had them a couple of times as a child. but only had one or 2 when the DC were overrun with them several times when they were in infant school

Strange how we're all affected differently. There's obviously some reason for it, but who knows?
🤔

I think many of these are just one of those things.

Growing up dbro had them, me and dsis, despite long hair never did.
Dh tells me him and his brothers all had them fairly regularly.

My girls have both had them as one or two one offs and a period aged about 14yo when they seemed to be constantly being re-infected. I assume one of their friendship group didn't realise so they were just passing it back.
Ds had it once really badly (sorry anyone who caught it off him) because he doesn't react badly to the bites like the girls do, so I didn't realise early like I do for them, but he was absolutely infested. He hasn't had them since.

All of us are O+ blood, siblings included.

Now I'm itching.

Rhesus neg, had them constantly as a kid

I think you are misunderstanding. It is colour, not blood group they adapt to, so the "blood" in your story doesn't been blood group, it means family

We are all AB- and they bloody love us and Our blood 🩸
Thank god I have boys and can cut their hair short

As I child I NEVER HAD NITS

So not sure what is going on here. The new nits still don't like my hair as much
Coloured and use lots if L'Oréal conditioner 😬

A+ - I've never had lice (though never remember anyone getting them at school to be honest), never get bitten by mosquitoes/midges etc, but my ankles were the early warning system for our cats having fleas as a child 😅