Yikes Lice!!!!!(PARENTS)

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Mar 2, 2009

I think EVERYONE has the same type of problem. Nothing seems to cause panic like lice. The school could be infected with the Plague and no one would care, but let one louse loose and look out! One of our nurses was even reported to the department of health because the parent felt the nurse was handling the situation poorly. My only advise is to continue to educate the family, teachers, administration and then educate them again.

Why are heads being checked weekly anyways and why are teachers doing it? I see no reason to check heads weekly. I'll try and locate and post the research that supports this.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Mar 2, 2009

Raidermom, see this site from Harvard:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html

zenman · Mar 3, 2009

Here's my policy which was approved by admin:

Management of Head Lice Infestations

Head lice are small parasites that live on the scalp and neck hairs of humans. They are a social and public health problem and are not responsible for diseases. Complications are rare and usually involve skin infection. Itching is the most common symptom. Trans- mission usually occurs by direct contact with the head of an infested person. Indirect contact through sharing of hats, combs, brushes, etc., is less likely to happen. Lice tend to stay on the head of the host.

Management of head lice should not disrupt the educational process. The following policy is adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of School Nurses, LSU Law Center's Medical and Public Health Law Site, and Harvard School of Public Health.

If nits are discovered on hair, inspect periodically for live lice. If live lice are present, notify parent at end of school day, as the lice have usually been present for a month or more by the time discovery is made. For both nits and live lice, provide information (web links below) to parents on how to manage infestation. Children should be allowed to return to school following appropriate treatment.

The following responses are not justified:

*Exclusion or quarantine

*Embarrassment of child

*Notification of classmates' parents

*Mass screenings

*Insecticide treatments in school setting

Environmental Measures For Infestation

Lice crawl and do not hop or fly. Aggressive cleaning measures are not warranted. Items that have been in direct contact with the head of an infested person should be cleaned by washing, soaking, or drying at temperatures greater than 130 degrees. Items that can not be cleaned in this manner may be vacuumed.

Resources

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html

http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cphl/practice/lice/hl-myths.htm

http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_Lice.htm

raidermom · Mar 3, 2009

Well our new principal last year said that she wanted heads checked on Friday by the teachers that way no class time is missed for treatment. I am only atthe elementary school and for about an hour a day and cannot check 300 kids. Our policy says that if live bugs are found they must be picked up then, if nits are found then we send a letter home with student at the end of the day. Another thing is that we have CHRONIC OFFENDERS. Have ordered some things to do at school but my hands are tied in dealing with this because of staffing issues. Oh and another thing , Principal wanted letter revised spent time doing this yesterday and now she wants to change it again.

cowgirlBSN · Mar 3, 2009

Our school has a no lice, no nit policy. Therefore we have had a lot of absence concerning lice issues. This year has been one of the worst I've ever had dealing with lice. I do not normally do school wide checks. However this year I've been through K-5th grades on 2 seperate occasions. We've had a few families move into the school district that cannot seem to get rid of it so they've been giving it to others here. Trying to keep things under control I monitor these families every friday/every other friday. If a parent asks for a child to be checked I gladly check them but time simply does not warrant head checks for the whole school. I tried to ammend our policy to send students home only if live lice is found on their heads but admin haven't gotten back to me which tells me they don't want to go that route. I have done sooo much teaching on this issue but it's hard for people to change their views.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Mar 3, 2009

I really don't think this is practical or beneficial for the teachers to be checking every Friday. I can't believe the parents are tolerating this. I understand that we do what the principal tells us to, believe me I understand it all too well but geeze...EVERY week! I could see focusing on the chronic offenders, and that is where you as the nurse could come in. Couldn't a letter be sent home to the parents asking THEM to check their kids heads periodically?

I don't know your principal, so I don't want to put him/her down but what are they going to do when they find out a kid has MRSA or impetego or scabies or pin worms or one of the other myriad of kiddie crud that is out there?

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Mar 4, 2009

"kiddie crud"...........too funny ! :yeah:

raidermom · Mar 4, 2009

Our policy is if one student in a class is checked then all have to be checked because of discrimination issues that have come up before me. This way we cannot be accused of treating any child different. We used to have a no nit policy until 3 years ago and then our state did away with it. I did not have alot of absences or problems when this was in effect. Parents knew they had to get rid of them now they know that the child can come back whether they treat or not. It is a cycle that cannot be broken. I have never had as much trouble as they have this year.