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Nurses & Head Lice

School nurses provide an authoritative voice to students, parents, the community and education officials regarding health issues of concern to the community, including head lice infestations in the classroom, according to the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). Head lice infestation is a largely misunderstood condition that may result in undue anxiety among children, parents and educators, notes the NASN.

  1. Significance

    • Head lice infection, according to the United Kingdom's Public Health Medicine Environmental Group, is considered an infectious condition, but the health risks associated with this infection may be exacerbated by societal perception. The NASN notes that common head lice are not known to be carriers of illnesses. The majority of complications from head lice involve secondary bacterial skin infections resulting from excess scratching or inappropriate treatment.

    Size

    • According to the NASN, between 6 million and 12 million children under the age of 12 experience a head lice infestation each year. Approximately 1 percent of elementary school children in the United States get head lice each year. The Public Health Medicine Environmental Group notes that evidence indicates the prevalence of childhood head lice infestation is increasing around the globe.

    Function

    • The NASN believes the local school nurse, as the most knowledgeable medical professional available to the educational community, is best prepared to provide advice, guidance and education regarding head lice infestations. According to the NASN, the local school nurse should be prepared to identify and contain head lice infestations; inform children, parents and educators of appropriate measures for treatment and prevention; educate the community regarding the hazards of overtreatment; and maximize school attendance.

    Treatment

    • School nurses typically advocate traditional treatments for head lice. These treatments may include the removal of nits with a fine-tooth comb and the proper application of over-the-counter and prescription medications. Nurses may provide warnings that some head lice products may contain a neurotoxic pesticide. Such products are believed to be safe and effective when used as directed, but should be used with caution and only under the supervision of adults.

    Considerations

    • The NASN recommends that children with live head lice be treated by their parents. Once treated, the NASN advocates that the children return to normal activities. The NASN does not believe treatment for head lice should be allowed to disrupt the education process and does not advocate excluding children from normal activities based solely on the presence of nits, once the active infestation has been treated.

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