Jefferson County Early Intervention

DearParents/Guardians,

Headliceis a commonproblemamongchildren.Anyone can get head lice. Close head-to headcontact, orsharingofbrushes, hatsorpillowsisusuallyhow it spreads.Licedon'tflyorjump,andtheyneedhumanbloodtolive. Theydon'ttransmitdiseases,butinfectionscanoccurfromconstantscratchingofthescalp.

Ifachildcomestoschoolwithliceintheirhair,theywillbeseparatedfromotherchildrenandtheparentcalledtocometakethemhome. Specialcarewillbetakentoprotectthechild'sprivacy. Whentheparentarrives,aninstructionflieronhowtotreattheheadlicewillbegiventothem. Parentsshouldtreatthechildandanyotheraffectedmembers ofthefamilywithanappropriateliceshampoolikeRidorNix, andalsodotheirbesttoremoveallthenits(eggs)fromthehair. Washingthechild'sclothes,bedlinensandotherhouseholdmeasuresareimportantalso. Thiscanbeveryhardworkandtimeconsuming,butisthebestwaytoensurethatthecasewon'trecur. (Itemsthatcan'tbewashedcanbesealedinplasticgarbagebags for2weeks.)

Thechildcanreturnthenextschooldayifthechildwastreated,alllivelicearegoneandthehairisasnit-freeaspossible. Astaffpersonwillcheckthechild'shairuponreturntoschool. Itisrecommendedthatyoushampoothechild'shairandanyotheraffectedfamilymember'shairasecondtime7-10dayslaterandcontinuetolookfor andremoveanynits. Usingtheliceshampoomoreoftenthanrecommendedcanbeharmful,andifyourchildhasasthmaoraseizuredisorder,youmaywanttocontacttheirdoctorbeforeusingthem. Someliceareresistanttobeingkilledbytheshampoo,socareful effort toeithercombout(withaspeciallicecomb)orhandremovealltheliceandnitsisoftenthemosteffectivetreatment.

THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROVIDES FREE LICE SHAMPOO FOR THOSE ON O.H.P.

Ifyouhavequestions,pleasecontactyourchild'sschool.

EI/ECSEConsulting Nurse