Please view this Instagram post for step-by-step information and helpful comments.
- Anybody can get head lice by coming into contact with an infected person, but spread of head lice requires direct head to head contact. Head lice can’t swim, fly, hop or jump.
- Head lice can be spread as long as lice or eggs remain alive on the infected person’s clothing.
- Head lice are generally caught from close family and friends in the home and community, and not from the school.
If your child has nits there is no reason why the child should not be in school. Do let the classroom teacher know that you have discovered nits so we can share that information with all families in the class. We will not reveal that your child has nits. Please do not rely on using only WhatsApp or other communication tools
If your child has lice, the child does need to stay out of school until the lice are treated. Once the treatment is complete, the child can return to school. Again, please let the classroom teacher know that your child has lice so we can assure that all families in the class are aware. We will not reveal that your child has lice. Please do not rely on using only WhatsApp or other communication tools
We recommend that you examine your child’s hair near a window or under a bright light. Section the hair with a comb and look carefully near the scalp for:
Nits (lice eggs) which are very small, pearly ovals that stick to the hair about ¼ inch from the scalp. Nits are tightly glued to the hair even when hair is combed. Flake dandruff is more varied in shape and shakes out easily.
Head lice crawl about the hair and scalp. Infant lice are called nymphs. They are black and look like poppy seeds. Adult lice are brown and about the size of a sesame seed. They move very quickly and can be hard to see. Be sure to check the nape of the neck and behind the ears.
Another sign of head lice is itching of the scalp. A child may have red rash-like marks that look like tiny mosquito bites. When you check your child’s hair, please tie your own hair back or use a head covering.
Please consult either your physician or pharmacist for products effective in treating nits and lice. Follow package directions carefully. Limit the treatment to the scalp and hair. Be careful to protect the eyes during treatment to avoid irritation.
This is a helpful video from the American Academy of Dermatology:
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/head-lice-overview
Removing nits is a mandatory part of lice control. It takes time and needs to be repeated over a few weeks. Adult lice can live and reproduce up to 30 days on a person’s head. To live, adult lice need to feed on blood several times daily. Without blood meals, the louse will die within 1 to 2 days off the host.
The hair of all family members should be checked and treated if necessary. Recheck your child’s hair and scalp several times in the weeks after an infestation.
The Centers for Disease Control offer an excellent resource for head lice: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/index.html
Your child may return to school as soon as the lice have been removed. Children who are excluded from school until they are treated.
