Head Lice!

[SnowyJ]

Ugh. We have had issues with head lice since school began! The problem is more with the children I DON'T know about. I can't check all 604 students in the school, I'd go blind.

I send home an extensive packet of info for parents when I find lice/nits. Our school also has a no lice/nits policy.

What are your best tips on managing lice in school?

[OldDude]

We do classroom head checks here only if there is a confirmed case in that certain classroom. I had a class at the beginning of the school year that was a class of 15 that had 8 of them with lice!! I then went from those 8 to their siblings, and some had them and some didn't!! I then had some of the older siblings of the group of 8 that were in basketball, so I then went and checked the entire basketball team!! Whew!! What a day that was!! 2 from the basketball team in addition to the siblings that were on the basketball team had it. The 2 that had it were close acquaintances with the siblings that were on the basketball team. So I do firmly believe that in this case particularly that lice does spread quickly. I also in a sense don't believe that we need to go looking for the problem either.

...I got tired just reading this

[AdobeRN]

I wish our district would change the policy regarding lice. We are still sending kids home immediately with live lice, they are allowed back the next day with nits as long as they have been treated and I don't see any live lice - and if I have 2+ cases in same classroom I am required to do a class head check and send a note home to all of the students. I have been a school nurse going on 5 years now and only once have I found a case of lice by doing classroom head checks. I am also of the mindset "don't ask, don't tell", I do not go out of my way to look for it.

It surprises me that on the younger kiddos (k-3rd) that I am the one finding the lice - usually those parents are still brushing/styling their kids hair everyday - I don't get how they miss it.

[OldDude]

It took about 5 years to finally convince the staff that we were not going to exclude a child from education because of head lice; regardless of whatever "problem," objection, obsession, or disagreement they or a parent lodged. The first few years after we changed the policy you would have thought I sent I kid with Bubonic Plague into their class when I would return a child with LIVE CRAWLING LICE back to a classroom. But our district held firm and it's a lot better now. We still get the hysterical parent that "takes it to the superintendent" and they are dealt with as tenderly as possible but the policy is the policy with no evidence to support the contrary. I still identify and educate regarding the subject but that's it.

[cynmrn]

I wish our schools would hold firm on our policy. Instead, administrators can do whatever they please with it, because of the little blurb "district authorities can restrict." I almost feel like, what is the point of me even being here? I have half a mind to just direct anyone with lice problems to the principal and wash my hands completely of it...

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

It surprises me that on the younger kiddos (k-3rd) that I am the one finding the lice - usually those parents are still brushing/styling their kids hair everyday - I don't get how they miss it.

this astounds me too, especially when it's an infestation I can see from across the room.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Despite commonly held beliefs to the contrary, inanimate objects (such as combs, brushes, hats, helmets, headphones and hair accessories) are insignificant in harboring or transmitting head lice or their eggs. Hence, there is little, if any, reason to focus efforts to clean the home or to bag clothing, toys or other items with the intent of reducing the transmission of head lice.

Neither able to fly nor jump, lice are also unlikely to wander far from their preferred habitat. Lice and their eggs are unable to burrow into the scalp.

Generally, treatment should be considered only when a live or crawling louse is observed. The identity of the crawling insect [as a head louse] on the hair should be positively confirmed. Many other kinds of insects may climb upon or accidentally become lodged amongst the head hair. Frequently, these include plant-associated insects such as aphids and thrips, other garden creatures such as springtails, or common household denizens such as book lice. Because these other kinds of insects do not infest a person; they do not require treatment.Often, presumed cases of head louse infestations are based upon the discovery of louse eggs (‘nits’) or egg-like material. Without magnification and suitable expertise, they are difficult to correctly distinguish from other material caught in the hair. Amongst presumed ‘nits’ submitted to us by physicians, nurses, teachers and parents, the vast majority are simply artifacts such as dandruff, hairspray droplets, scabs, dirt, or other insects. None of these would justify treatment for head lice.

https://identify.us.com/idmybug/head-lice/head-lice-FAQS/index.html

This site interestingly enough says that a majority of the specimens sent in are NOT lice. I've had people bring me kids with very dirty hair and dandruff, thinking it was lice. Lice are not connected with cleanliness or lack thereof.

Hysteria over lice is hard to overcome but if we are armed with FACTS, not myths . . . . (lice cannot fly) . . . . . we will win the war.

So, BRAVO Old Dude!

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

My daughter gets sent home with lice once every fall. The nurse does head checks and then does follow up head checks on the previously infested. I've become the best nit picker ever. I don't know which of us hates it more....sensitive scalp girl with thick long curly hair, or me with my osteopenic neck bending over under a light to comb every nit out. We tried RID and it never worked. My favorite treatment is the Lice Freee with the salt in it. Works like a charm, no pesticide, easy for the comb through.

[Rubor]

Exactly olddude! great post.

to those doing classroom checks, sounds like a great project for policy changes and education opportunity for staff.

[Elixer]

Yeah, I tried and attached references(NASN, APA, CDC) to support my ground but got a(yes very reputable organization), don't know if I take it as an insult or just let it pass kinda comment.

Our School director actually thought it was very interesting but the principal wrote he expected me to be much more "stricter" on the No lice/nits policy. He also mentioned "no parent would respect such decision".

Well, I feel so crappy but I tried.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

For me, this precedent was set a long time ago. (Checking classes.) The teachers are used to it, and expect it.

I am still thinking of doing away with it. We have no formal "policy" on checking classes. Not sure why they even started doing it at all WAY back when. Come to think of it, I remember my class lining up for lice checks when I was in elementary school and that was a looooong time ago. I guess old habits are hard to break.

Well I expect an uninterrupted lunch but THAT's not gonna happen!!!! (oh, but the teachers will get that!!) Tough, show them the evidenced based practice and get the support of your administrator!

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

oh, i had a parent who accused me of lying last week when i sent his child home with lice when he asked if lice was going around and i told him that i had know of no other active cases. it's not like i can give him a list of names. He emailed another staff member and told her to forward the email to one of the administrators because i was lying and he knew for sure that there were other cases of lice in the school. Good to know he's out there personally checking heads.

Hah! Liar Liar pants on fire!! LOL~

[soon2bnycmhnp]

Hi Jen can you please send me a copy of this at [email protected]