Lice

Head lice are very common in communities/schools and are one of the nuisances that parents of school-age children occasionally find

themselves dealing with. No school is ever lice-free, just as no school is free of the common cold. The management of head lice can

elicit strong emotions, therefore, evidence-based literature provides the rationale as to how lice are handled in school settings.

Lice does not cause disease and are not dangerous to the child or to others.
School is not a high-risk area for getting lice. Multiple studies have proven the school rarely is the site of lice transmission.
Most cases of lice are spread by friends and family members with close head-to-head contact.
A head check should be included as part of your child’s hygiene routine.

Students with lice should remain in school and not be immediately excluded.
By the time head lice are discovered, the child has usually had them for 3-4 weeks; therefore, it makes no sense to exclude the child from class.
No matter how careful staff is to protect the privacy of students when a child has to leave school for lice, it can cause an unnecessary and significant social stigma to the child and family.

Parents, please notify the school nurse if head lice have been detected and treated. Students with lice will be checked by the nurse when they return to school and as needed.

If active lice/nits are found, the parent will be confidentially notified. The school nurse will provide information to the parents about proper treatment options.
Parents of children with head lice will be encouraged to talk to other parents of close friends. Parents will not be informed of other children who have lice in school, as that is a privacy concern.
Classroom head checks will not be done. Studies have shown that this does not have a significant effect on the incidence of lice and has only shown to increase anxiety, cause embarrassment, and puts student’s confidentiality at risk.

It is essential that you screen your child over school breaks as well as regularly throughout the school year.

Resources:

Bernards Township School Nurses