Head Lice Information and Resources for Parents
Head Lice, or pediculosis, are insects that need humans to survive. They are very good at survival, because they have been around since ancient times.
Head lice are uncomfortable, annoying and inconvenient. However, they do not spread disease. They are not considered a public health problem.
In Waltham. and other communities in Massachusetts, we occasionally have students with head lice. Head lice are primarily spread by close, personal contact in the home, at sleep overs, camps, and sometimes by sharing hats, combs, and other hair ornaments. They are rarely spread in schools, but it can happen.
Parents are advised to check their child's hair regularly, at least monthly, for evidence of head lice. If you need help checking for head lice please contact your school nurse for help. If your child has head lice, please contact your primary care provider for treatment guidance. You should inform your school nurse so she can check your child's class mates as a precaution. Research has shown that checking the entire grade level is ineffective, because lice spread from close personal contact. Head lice are primarily spread in the family, therefore everyone in the family should be checked for head lice.
Parents of students who are found to have head lice are notified. The nurses refer the parents to the physician for treatment. The nurses also teach the parents how to remove the lice and nits. The students are rechecked prior to their return to school for evidence of treatment, and that most of the nits (eggs) have been manually removed by the parents. The nits shouldn't hatch after a treatment, but we encourage parents to keep combing and removing any remaining nits. The nurses continue to monitor the student for any evidence of a recurrence of head lice.
The American Academy of Pediatrics website posts these recommendations to prevent the spreas of head lice:
You do not need to throw away any items belonging to your child, but you may want to follow these prevention tips
- Wash your child's clothes, towels, hats, and bed linens in hot water and dry on high heat.
- Soak combs and brushes in boiling hot water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Vacuum furniture, carpeting, car seats, and other fabrics that your child was in contact with 24 to 48 hours before treatment.
- Items that your child has been in very close contact with that cannot be washed, such as stuffed animals or toys, can be placed in a plastic bag for 2 weeks (by which time any live lice would die).
- Do not spray pesticides in your home because they can expose your family to dangerous chemicals.
- Check other members of your household for lice and, if present, treat these persons and manage their personal items as outlined previously.
Remember that live lice cannot live more than 24 to 48 hours off the head, so extraordinary cleaning measures are usually not necessary. It is better to spend the time properly treating the child with head lice. (www.healthychildren.org: Signs of Head Lice, updated 3/20/2010)
Some links and information that will help you to minimize the disruption from head lice are listed here. Please call or email your school nurse for more information or assistance.
Parent Head Lice Letter: En Espanol
Waltham Public Schools Head Lice Brochure for parents
AAP pediculosis article.pdf - This is a detailed article
