Head Lice!

mamahuff · Jan 9, 2015

Just had this happen today. Teacher calls me. Tells me that she has seen an unidentified bug in child's hair. Teacher tried to catch it (in the classroom) but couldn't. I check the child. I find 2 suspicious looking bugs. Since I protect the child from embarrassment and I know this teacher is going to call me...When the teacher calls, she lets me know that she has had ALOT of experience with this in her previous school. She says, "do I need to have you check my whole class?" I say, "No, just watch for any student that may be extra itchy.' To the teacher's surprise, I ended the conversation there.

Although, she shouldn't be surprised, because at my beginning of the year staff inservice, I was very, very clear to the teachers and staff that whether a student has head lice or not, IS NO LONGER NEED TO KNOW INFORMATION.

I called the mom and talked with her. They do have pets, and have had fleas. I had a friendly conversation, was a resource person for the mom, and left it at that.

Farawyn · Jan 9, 2015

What would qualify as a "non suspicious bug"? :cheeky:

Fleas! UGH! They hop, don't they?

mamahuff · Jan 9, 2015

Ha Ha. Love it. Good question. Maybe I should ask the "Expert teacher"...because I am sure that she probably knows. :banghead: :saint:

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2015

Yep, same here. Parents get mad and demand class check and 9 out of 10 times no one else has it so I try to avoid doing them. The problem is the same families get it over and over because they don't take the time and effort or have the proper resources to do what it takes to make sure the problem is resolved. I think it's more a social service issue than a health issue.

We had a counselor one time that made it her sole mission to help eradicate lice from the chronic families in a school I was once in. She went out and bought a vaccum (this was in the 90's), helped them get washer/dryers, made home visits to educate and help them clean, do laundry, nit pick, etc. Did it work? Well for a couple weeks til they got them again. They transmit them between other family members/friends that live elsewhere and it's just a normal way of life for some people who are used to it and just don't care as much as others about it. She tried to follow the trail of people but some just wouldn't do the steps required. You can lead a horse to water... That's why I think it's more a social issue.

mamahuff · Jan 22, 2015

I just have to follow-up this post. The situation that I spoke of with the teacher trying to catch a bug on a child's head in the classroom....Well, it got worse. Confidentiality red flags galore. I was livid. Got with my Principal. A few days later, an all staff meeting happened. 3 teachers gone that day. The principal, with the help of another teacher, had the 3 absent teachers listening on cell phones. :)

I was pretty blunt, and to the point. I have attached the info. sheet that EVERYONE received a copy of. All teachers and staff, even the Janitor (who has checked students' head in the past (in my absence)....and they signed the "sign in sheet" that was on the back of this info sheet.

A few really ruffled feathers, but over all, a pretty good meeting. They didn't get very far with their comments that were pretty well all hysteria related.

When we were done, I told them this this should take all the gray area and questions out of this subject. I asked one more time if there were anymore questions or concerns. I told them that if they have questions to come up after this, that I would talk to them about it, but unless it is supported by the Science of it all. There would be no change in how it is handled.

Thanks to OldDude-- as you can see I used your quote. I am pretty sure it got there attention.

Confidentiality, Head Lice. Roles and Responsibilities. Grundy.docx