Whitehouse School

Dear Parents,                                                                          

Yikes it’s Lice!! This is a cosmetic issue not a medical condition. If  you suspect your child has lice this letter may be helpful to you. Head lice or pediculosis affects between 8 and 12 million American school children each year. The most common symptom of infestation is intense itching on the back of the head or neck. Head lice cannot survive without a human host, or on family pets. Head lice are passed from person to person by direct contact or on shared objects, such as hats, combs, towels, hair accessories, etc. Encourage your child to keep these things to him or herself.

How do I know if my child has head lice?

·        Check every member of the family. Every member with lice or nits must be treated.

·        Be alert to complaints about itchy scalp or scratching behind the ears.

·        Examine your child’s head to catch an infestation as early as possible.

·        Use a bright light and begin by looking behind the ears for little bites and nits.

·        Work in small areas (about 1 inch), parting the hair with a comb, to look for eggs attached to the hair near the scalp. The eggs or nits are firmly attached to the hair shaft. Look for tiny white or tan teardrop shaped eggs (nits). Unlike dry scalp or dandruff, they actually have to be scraped off the shaft of hair. 

·        Head lice are small, wingless, grayish-tan insects.  They travel quickly so you are less likely to find the lice themselves.

If you find head lice follow the steps below to easily take care of the problem.

1.      Kill the lice:  Several non-prescription treatments are available at local pharmacies. Follow the instructions on the package.  Retreatment of all initially infested persons in 8 to 10 days is recommended to insure complete elimination.  If live lice persist after treatment please consult your physician. Do not use the product more often than recommended. Over the counter products are recommended first and are 44% effective. Prescription shampoos are 84% effective and may be obtained from your physician.

2.      Remove all eggs: This is the most important step in ending lice infestation.  Eggs survive lice-killing treatments, and they will hatch and cause a reinfestation unless they are all removed.  Work in small areas, sectioning small areas of hair. Combs are provided with most lice treatment products but manual removal may be necessary. Please check your child daily for the next two weeks to insure complete elimination.

3.      Clean the environment: Wash clothes, bed linens, and towels. Use hot, soapy water, and then dry on the hot cycle for at least 20 minutes.  Combs and brushes may be soaked in hot water for at least 10 minutes or soaked in rubbing alcohol for 1 hour.  Stuffed animals and other unwashable items should be tightly sealed in plastic bags for at least 2 weeks or dry cleaned.

4.      Vacuum everywhere:  To make sure the rest of your home is louse-free; you should vacuum carpets, pillows, mattresses, upholstered furniture and your car. Please remember to change the bag after each session.

Non traditional approaches

There are several issues associated with recurrent head lice.   

·        Head lice resistance to over the counter products – documented in much of the literature.

·        Failure to remove nits and lice – this takes a lot of time and perseverance and must be performed daily for at least 2 -3 weeks. 

·        A fine toothed nit comb or brush to physically remove the lice and nits during treatment.

·        Unrealistic expectations – successful treatment requires additional shampooing or non traditional treatment to catch the lice during the appropriate lice cycle.

Over the counter shampoos with rosemary and other tree oils are also believed to repel lice.

Notify the school nurse

·        If your child has lice please notify the school nurse

·        Friends, relatives, and other close contacts should also be notified so they can take proper action.  This includes childcare facilities, and extracurricular activities.