Lice in school: That icky, itchy problem

posted by LesliePostal
Sentinel School Zone
Feb 2, 2009

Timber Lakes Elementary in Orange County had a big lice problem last week (perhaps still ongoing), with some 60 cases reported Wednesday and Thursday in the 617-student school. By Friday, though, kids sent home were returning to school, officials said.

My daughter's preschool had a lice problem last week, too (though thankfully she shows no sign of infestation). A colleague said her son's school sent home lice letters not long ago, too. I know the icky critters have popped up now and again at my son's school, too (though once again, and quite thankfully, we avoided direct knowledge).

My friends in New Jersey reported last year that they were miserable when their kids came home with lice, as I'm sure many parents are.

But experts say lice, while certainly a nuisance, are not a public health threat. They do not spread disease, nor are they signs of poor hygiene. And experts have been urging schools to take a more relaxed policy toward pediculus humanus capitis, the parisitic insect we call lice. As we reported in 2007, the Osceola County school district made that decision awhile back.

This December story from the Chicago Tribune noted that some schools are relaxing their "no-nits" rules, which had sent kids home just for having the louse eggs (or what looked like the eggs) in their hair. Instead, some schools are sending home only those kids with live infections. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against no-nits policies as well.

The letter my daughter's preschool sent home about the lice discoveries offered this advice, "Don't panic." Based on the information on the CDC website that seemed sound. You can read that here.

Among the facts: In the U.S. lice infestations are most common among preschool and elementary school children, and they are spread most often by head to head contact. Though it is standard practice to warn against sharing personal items or clothing, transmission via combs or hats (for example) is uncommon. Still, it's best to avoid those things.Here are some other CDC tips, to prevent and control the spread of lice:

The following are steps that can be taken to help prevent and control the spread of head lice:

Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp).

Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes

Do not share combs, brushes, or towels. Disinfest combs and brushes used by an infested person by soaking them in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5-10 minutes

Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an infested person

Machine wash and dry clothing, bed linens, and other items that an infested person wore or used during the 2 days before treatment using the hot water (130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned OR sealed in a plastic bag and stored for 2 weeks.

Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay. However, spending much time and money on housecleaning activities is not necessary to avoid reinfestation by lice or nits that may have fallen off the head or crawled onto furniture or clothing.

Do not use fumigant sprays or fogs; they are not necessary to control head lice and can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.

Of course none of this means that dealing with lice isn't an icky, unpleasant hassle.

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