Head Lice
At the beginning of each new school year every parent, teacher, and school worker dreads hearing those often-inevitable words, "There is an outbreak of lice at the school." Every year thousands of children becomes infested with head lice. Lice tend to spread quickly in schools because kids play together more closely and often share more stuff than adults do.Head lice are small, only about 1/16 of an inch long. They cannot fly and do not jump from one person to the next. Diagnosis of head lice is made when lice eggs (called nits) are present in the hair. Nits are usually found behind the ears and at the nape of the neck, although they may be found in any section of the hair.
Lice are very small insects called parasites, which means that they need to live off other things in order to survive. ANYONE can get head lice. Lice will set up camp on anyone's head, whether that person is clean, dirty, in second grade, in fifth grade, black or white. Anyone who says that people who get lice are dirty doesn't know that lice love everyone equally, and that includes the cleanest kid in class!
If a parent, school nurse, or doctor makes a diagnosis of lice, you will need to purchase an effective head lice treatment at your local drug store. Your pharmacist can recommend an effective product. In order to be successful in killing the lice, it is imperative that you meticulously remove the nits from your child's head with the special comb that accompanies the lice treatment product.
Wash all clothes (including jackets and hats), bed linens and towels in hot water and dry on hot cycle for at least 20 minutes. Items that cannot be safely washed, such as stuffed animals, should be dry-cleaned or stored outside the home or sealed in a plastic bag for one week. Boil combs and brushes for at least 10 minutes; you may also soak them for at least an hour in a 2% Lysol solution. Vacuum carpets, pillows, mattresses, furniture, and vehicle interiors to make sure your home is free of lice. Be very thorough and discard of vacuum bag immediately.
Head lice only survive on humans and do not affect family pets. To eliminate head lice from your home, follow the directions above and encourage your child not to share hats, combs, or other clothing with friends at school. Lice cause no disease or illness - only an inconvenience.
If you have any further questions, please contact your physician or Building Nurse.
