Dear Parents/Guardians,
As we prepare for February break, it’s time for a reminder about head lice! The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that parents are the first line of defense when it comes to head lice and we want to help empower our families to be just that. If you are informed, you can help identify and manage lice.
It is important to note that head lice are not a health hazard or a sign of poor hygiene and are not responsible for the spread of any disease. With information and education, we reduce the spread of lice and demystify the stigma around it. We hope to prevent children and families from being ostracized from their schools, friends, and other social events.
What are head lice?
Head lice are tiny, wingless insects that live close to the human scalp. The eggs, also called nits, are tiny, teardrop shaped eggs that attach to the hair shaft. Nits often appear yellowish or white and can look like dandruff that cannot be removed or brushed off. The nymph, or baby louse, is small and grows to adult size in one to two weeks. The adult louse is the size of a sesame seed and appears tan to grayish-white. An itchy and inflamed scalp is a common symptom of lice; however, it may take 4-6 weeks to develop this sensitivity reaction to the louse saliva. Louse eggs are incubated by body heat and will survive less than 1 day if away from the scalp.
Who is affected by head lice?
All socio-economic groups are affected by lice. Neither hair length, cleanliness, frequent brushing, nor shampooing influence its prevalence. Pets do not play a role in the transmission of human lice. Infestations can occur at home, school, or in the community. Lice move by crawling. They do not hop, jump, or fly. Therefore, head lice are mostly spread by direct head-to-head contact.
How can I help prevent lice?
Classroom transmission is low; however, it helps to teach kids not to share personal items such as combs, brushes, or hats and to limit or avoid head-to-head contact with other students. Parents should check their child’s head for lice regularly and when the child displays symptoms.
What to do if an infestation occurs?
If you think your child has head lice, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider to discuss the best treatment approach for your family. It is not necessary to keep your child home from school; but, educating your child on refraining from head-to-head contact is important. It is prudent to check other family members and treat if they are found to have live lice.
Our Role at School
Our goal is to educate and inform families. We will send periodic information such as this and welcome questions from families. During the school day, we will only check students that have demonstrated symptoms and the parent requests a screening. If your child is found to have lice, they will remain in school and we will talk with them about avoiding head-to-head contact and not sharing personal belongings. The school nurse will contact you via phone and/or letter to inform you that lice/nits were found and suggest you call your healthcare provider to discuss treatment options. No one other than you will be contacted. As there is no public health threat associated with lice, confidentiality is one of our main goals and will be maintained at all times.
As your school nurse, I want to provide you with the information you need to safeguard your child and pave the way for a continued healthy school year. Useful, family friendly lice information from the American Academy of Pediatrics can be found here. I hope you find this information helpful. Please do not hesitate to call with questions.
Sincerely,
H. Jones, BSN, RN, NCSN
ACSD School Nurse for Salisbury/Cornwall/Ripton
