Hot Topics

 Head Lice Management in Schools

Head lice are tiny insects that seem to cause a big commotion in schools. Our goal is to address this situation in the most educationally and socially beneficial manner for our students.  Privacy is our top concern.  Here are some facts about lice and how to treat them.

• Head lice are not a source of infection or disease; they are simply a nuisance.  They are not a predictor of cleanliness or socio-economic status.
• Lice do not hop, jump, or fly; they crawl.  They are transmitted mainly through direct head-to-head contact.
• Lice can only live on humans, and quickly die if not on a human head.
• When found, most cases of head lice are already more than a month old. One sign is a red itchy rash on the back of the neck, just below the hair line. 
• Most cases of transmission occur outside of the school setting.
• The only 100% effective way to get rid of lice is to pick out ALL of the nits.
 

Students who have lice will be treated with respect and confidentiality, on an individual basis.  Please refer to your student handbook for policy specifics.If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

For evidenced-based information about head lice see http://identify.us.com/head-lice/

The attached document is the most recent policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding lice management in the school setting.  Page 8 specifically addresses the school setting.