Lice

Dear Families:

This is to notify you that there has been a case of head lice reported in our pod.  Head lice can be a recurring problem among school children and are not considered a health hazard, as they do not spread disease and/or illness. Head lice are a common frustration, however, the mass screening of all students in a classroom and/or school does not control the spread of head lice. Rather, the spread of head lice can be minimized with routine inspection for live head lice and nits by parents and treatment of those students found with live head lice. Head lice can spread from person to person by having head-to-head contact. Having head lice is not associated with age, sex, race, social class or hygiene.  Please consider checking your child when they return home from school today.  The following information will help you control the problem of head lice in your home.   

Our best chance for preventing the spread of lice is to have everyone’s participation in detecting head lice. Please check your child’s hair routinely.

Symptoms of head lice are:

1. Itching of the scalp may be present.

2. Rash and tiny bite marks on the neck and scalp, especially evident around the nape of the neck and behind the ears.

3. Presence of nits (eggs), tiny, smooth, oval eggs which can vary in color from white to yellowish-white to dark brown, they are glued firmly at an angle to the side of the hair shaft or the louse itself. The nits stick to the hair shaft and must be pulled off with a lice comb or fingernails. They cannot be flicked off like dandruff or washed away.

If live lice or nits (eggs) are found please notify the school and follow the instructions below:

1. TREAT THE HAIR. Consult with your health care provider for recommended treatments. You may request information from the school nurse about suggestions for hair treatments as well. Many different brands of lice killing shampoos are available; some are harsher and not as effective as others. Comb and pick lice and nits twice per day for two weeks even if it appears to be getting better. The only cure for lice is the removal of all lice and nits from the head.

2. TREAT THE ENVIRONMENT. Wash bedding, towels and affected clothing, vacuum carpets, furniture, car seats, Remove toys, pillows, stuffed animals that cannot be laundered for a period of 10 days. Pesticide sprays are not recommended, they can be a health hazard.

Before returning to school the following procedure should be followed:

1. Student treated with recommended shampoo or treatment used as directed.

2. Primary students need to cleared through the health room before they can return to class. Secondary students must also be cleared through the health room before returning to class.

I hope that this awareness and information helps eliminate the spread of lice to more families.  Thanks for your support and attention to this matter.

-Brian Pfaff