Head lice

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Specializes in School Nurse.

I was wondering if there are any laws prohibiting school districts from sending home a letter to parents when lice is found in the classroom. Obviously, confidentiality would be protected. Is there anything that states we need to have 3 or more students with lice before a letter can be sent? I am located in the state of WI, btw. I get both sides- parents want and should be alerted with cases of head lice, but also, confidentiality should always be a priority. Any help from school nurses about laws/policies regarding this would be greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

Why? Read this: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/schools.html

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Our policy changed in the last few years that letters get sent home if there are x number of active cases of lice found in the same classroom BY THE NURSE. This has come into play several times as parents have been annoyed that I didn't send home a letter when either they called to mention that they treated for lice OR (my personal fave) that a child (not theirs) has lice and they thought i should know... but of course i don't get told the name of the child, not that the heresy would matter, but it amazes me.

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There are always head lice, parents should check their kid's head all the time.

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We do not send home letters or so whole classroom checks. (Thank goodness!)

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

I don't send letters or do full classroom checks.

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I am in Texas and someone had a bunch of time on their hands to actually get a law passed that for each case that a parent notifies me or if I find a case in a class we have to send a classroom letter home - so stupid and such a waste of time and energy on my end because I end up dealing with a handful of emails/calls and almost always a nasty/nosey neighborhood facebook post gets circulated.

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Specializes in School Nurse.
On 9/30/2019 at 8:36 AM, Flare said:

but of course i don't get told the name of the child, not that the heresy would matter, but it amazes me.

I think that's a Freudian slip. Did you mean hearsay?

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Ha ha! I did - That was typed before the java fully kicked in ?

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3 hours ago, AdobeRN said:

I am in Texas and someone had a bunch of time on their hands to actually get a law passed that for each case that a parent notifies me or if I find a case in a class we have to send a classroom letter home - so stupid and such a waste of time and energy on my end because I end up dealing with a handful of emails/calls and almost always a nasty/nosey neighborhood facebook post gets circulated.

What law is this? I'm also in Texas and at least the policy in my district is that letters don't get sent home to the entire class if it's a middle or high school, and not even to the identified student's parents if treatment's already begun at home.

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No letter needed. You do not send a letter home stating someone in a class has strep and it is actually contagious. Don't let the teachers and parents pressure you.

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Specializes in Pediatrics; School Nurse.
On 9/30/2019 at 3:45 PM, nursmimi said:

No letter needed. You do not send a letter home stating someone in a class has strep and it is actually contagious.

This!! Absolutely THE BEST response I've seen regarding lice-panic letters. ??

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