What to Do if a Child in Your Class has Head Lice

Head lice are tiny, wingless insects that live among human hairs and feed on the blood of the scalp. Head lice cannot hop or fly; instead, they crawl from one infected head to another.

Identifying Head Lice

• Adults in a classroom setting should note any consistent head scratching. Irritability due to lack of sleep may also be a sign of infestation because head lice are most active at night. Once these symptoms have appeared, adults should check the child's scalp for the eggs of the lice, called nits, or the adult lice. The nits are tiny white specks that attach to the shaft of the hair, close to the scalp. Adult lice are approximately the size of a sesame seed and crawl rapidly on the scalp.

Treatment

• Once a child has been diagnosed with head lice, he should be sent home to begin treatment. This treatment includes washing any infected clothing and bed linens in hot water, applying pediculicide (lice medicine) to the scalp and combing out any nits with a fine-toothed comb.

School Policies

• Many states have adopted a no-nits policy, prohibiting children from resuming classes until no nits are visible on the head. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, do not recommend this policy, opting for students to return to class after treatment has begun, stating that, although head lice are a nuisance, they do not spread disease.

Prevention

• Although head-to-head contact is the easiest way head lice are spread, they can also crawl onto hats, scarves and hair brushes. Children are advised not to share these items with their classmates.