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Schools

Those Pesky Lice: Updated Advice On Treatment and Prevention

Schools are urged to take a sensible approach toward infestations.

They are a nuisance and most definitely aggravating to kids and parents.  But head lice, however uncomfortable and itchy, do not carry disease or cause medical harm and should not prevent kids from attending school.   

This position is reiterated in the August issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, where a revised approach toward dealing with head lice is laid out for schools and parents.

The report says that there is no evidence that keeping a child with pediculosis (infestation of head lice) home from school limits the spread of an outbreak.

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There is no official lice policy in either Katonah Lewisboro or Bedford Central schools. But the districts do follow these procedures if students are discovered with head lice:

  • Students are sent home from school as soon as the case is discovered, with treatment instructions.
  • If parents have treated their child's hair, they are allowed to return to school the next day but first checked by the school nurse to ensure they are lice-free. 
  • If kids have no lice, but a few nits (louse eggs) they may proceed to class.
  • Written notification is sent home to parents about the case of lice with recommendations to do head checks of their children.

The basic facts about lice: a single louse is the size of a sesame seed, it is grayish-white, it adheres to a hair shaft near the scalp and can lay up to ten eggs (nits) a day.  Once a diagnosis is made that is sure to exclude dandruff, dirt or other residue on the hair, then a course of treatment should be begin.

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Dr. Louis Corsaro, school physician for both the Katonah-Lewisboro and Bedford Central School districts, stresses that there need not be any anxiety or hysteria about lice. He agrees with the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that "no-nit" policies be abandoned as they have been in local schools.

 "Head lice happen," he says.  "I recommend that parents be informed and begin treatment that day.  The child can return to school the next day." 

He says that over-the-counter medications like Cetaphil can be effective and even home remedies like conditioner and mayonnaise can work as long as they smother the critters and that the nits are combed out and removed.  Also, bedding and anything else that has come near the head should be properly washed.

Area pharmacies and specialty shops carry products that are non-toxic, including preventative sprays that often contain tea-tree oil. 

Some on the front lines of lice removal believe more school districts should have lice policies in place. 

Anna Krosche, better known as "The Lice Lady of Westchester," has been treating families in Westchester since 1998 and saw 375 cases in the past year alone.  "I believe no-nit policies in schools are useful," she says.  "Children should not be in school with any evidence of lice because they are very transmittable in a classroom setting." 

Krosche says school nurses should be equipped with the proper magnifying lights so they can perform re-checks on returning students.

Having school staff work together with parents to manage the problem seems to be the reasonable approach, according to a local parent.  

Robin Driesen, a mother of two long-haired students at Katonah Elementary School says she appreciates the help of the school nurse in checking for lice.  "I was not always sure what to look for," she said, about identifying the pests.  "But I think after that, parents should be responsible for following up with treatment. It would be a real burden on working parents if their kids were required to stay home."

Both the Lice Lady and area schools do agree on the following advice to families regarding prevention:

  • Do not share brushes, combs, hats or helmets.
  • If a case is identified in your kid's class, parents should "take a peek at least once a week."
  • Parents should begin treatment immediately after diagnosis.
  • Long hair should be worn up and off the shoulders.
  • No close or direct head contact with others.

With any luck, a little prevention will go a long way in keeping these irritating visitors away from back-to-schoolers this fall.

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