NSCSD does not exclude students for nits (eggs). If live lice are located, you will receive a phone call to pick up and treat your student. Upon return to school, you are required to accompany your student to the Health Office for re-evaluation.
We do not routinely screen classes for lice.
Please reach out with any questions, concerns or needed resources.
Head Lice Information
Lice FACTS:
Lice are tiny insects that feed on human blood on the scalp of people. They multiply rapidly and will lay about 10 eggs/day. The eggs, called nits, are small, yellowish, and oval shaped. They are glued to the hair shaft near the scalp for warmth. They hatch 6-10 days later and develop into a mature adult louse in 10 days, starting the process again.
Head lice have no wings and do not fly. They crawl at high speed and therefore can be difficult to detect. They spread from direct head to head contact or from the sharing of certain items such as combs, hats, helmets, or jackets hung side-by-side.
Lice infests people regardless of social status and personal hygiene. Cases should be treated promptly to prevent spread and monitored at home for the next 2 weeks or more to prevent reoccurrence. Treatment with an approved over the counter or prescription medication is necessary when first discovered and then repeated 10 days after initial treatment because no approved medication is completely effective against the eggs.
It is also necessary to check all household members and treat those affected at the same time. It is important to notify school and other children or those who may have had contact with the affected person.
Step by Step Plan for Lice Management:
Step 1: KILL the Lice
Use an over-the-counter lice treatment EXACTLY as directed or contact your pediatrician for a prescription medication to treat the lice. It is necessary to apply a second application 7-10 days later as the medications DO NOT kill the nits. All family members should be checked and treated at the same time if they are infested.
*IMPORTANT – DO NOT use a combination shampoo/conditioner or any conditioner before using the lice treatment and DO NOT rewash the hair for 1-2 days after lice medication treatment is removed.
Step 2: REMOVE ALL the nits
Use a fine tooth nit removal comb or your fingernails to pull off ALL nits. Continue to thoroughly check through the hair daily for nits until clear for a two week period of time.
Step 3: CLEAN the environment
Clothing (including hats/coats) and bedding should be washed in hot water and placed in a dryer on a hot setting. Combs and brushes should be washed in the treatment shampoo for the specified time or placed in 160 degree water for 5 minutes. Thoroughly vacuum and clean the home. Vacuum all pillows, mattresses, carpeting, and removable furniture cushions. Place all non-washable soft items in a sealed bag for 2 full weeks.
STEP 4: COMMUNICATE
With school nurse - regarding any problems with treatment, to facilitate screening of other students
With your doctor
With other parents that your child may have had close contact with
With the child – not to share combs, hats, helmets, hair accessories, or close head to head contact (hugging).
Returning to School after Lice treatment
After Lice Treatment, parents must remove as many nits as possible before returning to school.
Upon return to school after lice treatment, students should be driven to school and escorted by a parent or another adult to the health office to be checked by the school nurse prior to returning to class or being cleared to ride the bus. The nurse will check the student’s hair and if there is no live lice and if the number nits is manageable and significant progress has been made then the student will be cleared to attend class and ride the bus.
When cleared by a nurse, students will be allowed to ride the bus. Students should report to the health office immediately upon arrival at school to have their head checked by a nurse. Students will be sent home if a new cluster of nits close to the scalp or an unmanageable number of nits is discovered or if any live lice are found.
Please contact the child’s school nurse with any questions or concerns.
Our district recommends speaking with your child's doctor regarding Spinosad or Natroba 0.9% topical suspension. Spinosad or Natroba is used to treat head lice and scabies infestations. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is usually covered by insurance.
Here are some facts about Spinosad and it's use to treat head lice:
Effectiveness: Spinosad is a highly effective treatment for head lice, with most patients becoming lice-free after a single application. It's also ovicidal, meaning it kills both lice and their eggs.
Safety: Spinosad is considered safe and has a low risk of toxicity.
Application: Spinosad is applied topically and doesn't require nit combing after treatment.
Side effects: The most common side effects of spinosad are eye and scalp irritation. Other possible side effects include burning, dryness, flaking, itching, pain, redness, rash, swelling, or soreness at the application site.
Children: Spinosad can be used to treat head lice in children 6 months and older.
Cost: This product is usually covered by insurance. Check your coverage below.
Rinsing: After applying Spinosad, rinse the hair over a sink or tub with water, but avoid hot water. Don't wash the hair again for 1–2 days.
Success: Spinosad/ Natroba has a higher success rate than Nix, even without nit combing. See images below.