Head Lice in Public Schools

Head lice are a common problem among children 3 to 10 years old and their families. One reason may be the close physical contact and frequent sharing of objects that are common in this age group. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 million to 12 million children get head lice every year in the United States. With school-age children so vulnerable, it's no surprise that infestations in schools are a frequent occurrence.

Definitions

• An adult head louse is an insect about 2 mm to 3 mm long. It makes its home in human hair, where it lays its eggs, called nits. These nits attach to the hair, most commonly behind the ears and along the nape, but you can also find them in other areas. Although lice feed on human blood, they do not transmit disease. They make themselves known by the intense itching they cause. In the worst cases, frequent scratching erodes the skin of the scalp, leading to secondary infection, mild fever and irritability.

How They Spread

• Lice can't fly and also do not jump from person to person. They travel by crawling, often very fast, from the hair of one person to the hair of someone whose head is touching. They may also linger on objects such as hats, headbands and earphones for as long as two days. Any person coming in contact with one of these objects in that time runs the risk of getting lice.

Myths Debunked

• Animals play no part in the transmission of head lice from one person to another. Having lice does not mean that the person has poor personal hygiene; it simply means she got too close to someone who was infected. Only adult lice move from person to person, not the nits. Antibiotics are not useful in the treatment of infestation.

Interventions

• According to the Wisconsin Bureau of Public Health, the best way to avert or minimize infestations in schools is to be prepared. Education programs aimed at students, parents, teachers and school officials early in the school year can lower the risk of infestation and prevent panic and misunderstanding when one occurs. Parents and teachers should train to recognize head lice, and schools should establish policies on how to proceed when an infestation occurs. One strategy to minimize the spread of head lice is to ask the parents of any affected child to remove her from the school until the lice have been eradicated. In the process, teachers and school administrators should treat the child with sensitivity and care to ensure that she does not feel embarrassed or ostracized. In addition, it may be advisable to screen the entire classroom in which the case was found. When an affected student returns to school, thorough assessment of her scalp is warranted before allowing her in the classroom.

For More Information

• The Wisconsin Bureau of Public Health offers a booklet that details identification and treatment of students who have head lice. The booklet offers concrete, practical strategies for preventing and managing infestations in a public school setting. The University of Nebraska at Lincoln offers comprehensive information on identification and removal of head lice, including photos and videos, on its website.