Head
Lice in Schools
A
Lousy Experience
Your child has just come home from school announcing that “so and so” has lice. You shudder and think, thank goodness it’s not us, until that fateful day when the school nurse calls with the news: Your child has lice and has to leave school immediately. How could this be? You never had lice as a child, your house is clean, and your children’s heads are clean. Why your child? Why you? First, let’s dispel some myths and provide some education on this very common occurrence among school-age children, and even adults.
Lice are not a
medical problem! They are an annoyance
and a huge inconvenience and if you succumb to the marketing of various
pediculocides (lice-killing products), a tremendous cost. Lice prefer clean hair to dirty hair. Lice can affect people at all socio-economic
levels. Moreover, lice are very
contagious.
Lice come in three states: the nits
(eggs), the nymphs (newly hatched lice) and the adults (larger versions). Lice are difficult to see; they move quickly
and they do not like light. Usually, an infestation is determined by
seeing a number of nits along the hair shaft, and finding perhaps one or two
live lice.
Hairs with nits in contrast with a straight pin.
How to Treat for Lice
Take a deep breath and be patient. Treating lice takes time and persistence. If live lice are present, it will be necessary to purchase a lice-killing treatment shampoo. You may wish to contact your doctor or pharmacist for recommended products. Follow directions on the bottle carefully. After your child is treated, it will be necessary to comb out the lice and any nits. The shampoos do not kill the nits; those will have to be removed with a comb over a period of time. You can purchase a special comb specifically for the removal of lice and nits. After 7-10 days, a retreatment with the shampoo is recommended, but be sure to follow the directions on the product. Between the first and second treatments, go over your child’s head daily (twice daily if possible) with a lice comb, carefully removing all of the nits.
The use of a spray
bottle mixed with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water has been found to be
helpful in loosening the nits from the hair shaft. Section the hair and carefully examine and
comb through each section. As you
remove the nits, continually rinse the lice comb in a bowl of water, discarding
the water at the end of the session.
Prevention of Head
Lice
Whether lice are found at home, or by a staff member at school, we request proof of treatment, i.e., a shampoo bottle, box top or prescription label, before your child is readmitted to class. He or she should stop by the clinic with their proof of treatment before going to the classroom and a school official or the school nurse will check them. Since lice are difficult to eradicate, a school official will want to examine your child’s head periodically for nits. Your child can remain in school as long as he or she does not have live lice and you are removing the nits on an ongoing basis.
More Housework!
Lice removal also
includes a thorough cleaning of bedding, hair accessories, hats, or any area
where the child has rested his/her head, neck and shoulders, as well as
continual examination of the affected child’s hair. Wash bedding in hot water and dry on a high
heat. Stuffed animals, pillows, hats and
other items that cannot be laundered, can be bagged up
tightly for a 14-day period. A thorough vacuuming is also recommended. The
entire process is a lengthy one and can be very time-consuming. Sometimes lice are resistant to the treatment
shampoos, sometimes you can miss one or two nits, and the process begins all
over again causing frustration all around.
Be diligent in your removal of nits the first time around. As you can see by the diagram, the lice cycle
is ongoing and can be difficult to break.
For more information
on head lice, please visit the following websites or talk to your school
nurse.
http://www.loogootee.k12.in.us/west/headlice.htm
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/lice.html