Lice in the Classroom

Head lice are small and wingless parasitic creatures most common in the United States and Europe among young children, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Highly contagious, head lice spread quickly in group settings like the classroom as they are passed from child to child and from infected surfaces to child.

Lice & the Classroom

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, classroom screening for head lice lacks efficacy and cost-effectiveness. It's more effective to educate parents and teachers about diagnosing, treating and preventing head lice. If a lice infestation does occur in a classroom, immediate treatment and simple procedures such as vacuuming are the safe and effective tools.

Diagnosing Head Lice

• Educating parents and teachers about head lice can be an effective way of preventing or reducing lice infestation. Key in this education is teaching diagnosis. Intense itching often signals an infection, but locating an adult louse and/or lice eggs confirms an infection. Once a diagnosis has been determined, treatment should begin immediately and family, friends, and classmates should be notified and checked for evidence of infection.

Treating Head Lice

• Head lice can be treated with easy over-the-counter shampoos, but lice resistant to these treatments may need to be treated with prescription medication, according to the Mayo Clinic. Removing lice and their eggs physically every three to four days for two weeks or longer is a natural treatment for head lice. Along with such direct treatments, washing clothing and toys in hot, soapy water and vacuuming will prevent continued infection.