Lice
It is recommended that parents check their children's hair weekly (take-a peek, once-a-week) for any evidence of pediculosis. The district protocol for the management of pediculosis can be viewed by clicking Head Lice Protocol
If head lice is discovered, parents should:
Treat the infestation in accordance with the recommendation of their child's pediatrician and remove as many nits as possible before returning to school.
Notify close contacts- family and friends so that they can check their children's heads.
Notify the school nurse, who will offer guidance and support to families while maintaining confidentiality.
Continue to comb, inspect their child's head, and manually remove nits daily.
Who is at risk for getting head lice?
Head lice are found worldwide. In the United States, infestation with head lice is most common among pre-school children attending child care, elementary schoolchildren, and the household members of infested children. Although reliable data on how many people in the United States get head lice each year are not available, an estimated 6 million to 12 million infestations occur each year in the United States among children 3 to 11 years of age.
Head lice move by crawling; they cannot hop or fly. Head lice are spread by direct contact with the hair of an infested person. Anyone who comes in head-to-head contact with someone who already has head lice is at greatest risk. Spread by contact with clothing (such as hats, scarves, coats) or other personal items (such as combs, brushes, or towels) used by an infested person is uncommon. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice.
Reference: CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
For further information, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/index.html
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/index.html, 2014)