Procedure for Management of Pediculosis Capitus (Head Lice)
If a student is identified as having head lice, the student’s parent/guardian will be called and so informed. The parent/guardian will be asked to treat the child for head lice. If live bugs are found, the parent/guardian may be asked to pick up the child before the end of the school day. After treatment and upon return to school, the student will be checked by the school nurse before returning to class.” LCPS Family and Student Handbook, 2017-18
School Action –
- Staff will be vigilant for signs of lice (scratching of head, complaining of head itching, visible presence of eggs or lice) and refer to nurse.
- Parents/guardians will be notified by the nurse/HA that their child has head lice or nits (eggs attached to hair shaft).
- At the discretion of the school nurseand/or parent, students who have nits or live lice will leave school or go home at the end of the school day. They may return to school after the first treatment is completed and are cleared by the school nurse.
- Parents/ guardians will be provided educational material including recommendations, other treatment options and regimes to follow for environmental cleaning.
- All School staff will maintain confidentiality of affected student and his/her family.
- Mass screening of children for head lice is not recommended.
- Staff will implement classroom control measures (Including separating students' personal belongings).
Parent Action-
- Parent/guardian will pick up child as requested by nurse (i.e. as soon as parent or responsible party is able).
- Student will be treated for head lice using desired treatment method (OTC medication, prescriptionmedication or pesticide free methods). We suggest taking out as many eggs as you candaily. Even one egg left behind can start the process all over again.
- After treatment is completed, student should be re-screened for live lice by the school nurse; parent presence is preferred in case student is positive for live lice and student needs to be sent home. If parent is not present and student is positive for live lice, parent will be contacted to pick up student at nurse’s discretion.
- It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to treat, assess, and re-treat as appropriate. If treatment does not work or head lice is persistent, the parentis responsible for contacting the school nurse for more information about other treatment options.
- Lice treatment can be a long process depending on:
- Resistance to treatments
- Amount of eggs(nits) present; proper technique in ridding head of nits
- Life stage variations of (lice, nymphs (baby lice), andnits)
- Thorough cleaning of (home, car, and personal belongings)
- Complete treatment of all affected individuals in the home(at the same time)
- Ability to maintainpersonal space
- If you are unsure if someone in your home has lice the school nursecan help, please contact your child’s school nurse for more information.