College
Community
School
District
Protocol
for
Managing
Students
with
Head
Lice
College
Community
School
District
will
support
families
by
emphasizing
prevention,
early
detection
and
education
as
the
best
method
in
controlling
head
lice.
Pediculosis
(head
lice)
represents
a
common
childhood
condition
an
acknowledged
“problem,”
with
raising
and
caring
for
children.
Community
involvement
is
very
important,
and
families
must
actively
participate
at
home
in
the
treatment
and
prevention
of
head
lice.
The
plan
established
by
College
Community
School
District
is
designed
to
be
family
friendly
and
sensitive
to
individual
needs.
Our
goal
is
to
support
families
and
keep
kids
where
they
need
to
be…in
school.
This
plan
was
developed
following
the
recommendations
of
the
Linn
County
Public
Health
Department,
Iowa
Department
of
Public
Health,
National
Association
of
School
Nurses,
American
Academy
of
Pediatrics
and
Harvard
School
of
Public
Health.
The
School’s
Role
in
Head
Lice
Parent/Caregiver
Role
in
Head
Lice
Management
Management
• General
classroom
screening
is
not
• Check
children
at
home
for
head
lice
as
recommended.
Regular
screening
for
live
needed
lice
has
not
been
proven
to
have
a
• Check
household
contacts
and
treat
those
significant
effect
on
the
incidence
of
head
that
have
been
identified
with
live
head
lice
lice
in
a
school
community
overtime
or
nits
within
¼
inch
from
scalp
(Rollins,
2010)
• Notify
others
who
have
had
close
contact
• Students
with
signs
and
symptoms
of
head
with
the
child
in
the
past
2-‐3
weeks
lice
will
be
referred
to
the
school
health
• Call
the
school
to
report
head
lice
and/or
office
for
evaluation
and
recommendations
nits
found
on
child
for
treatment.
All
screening
shall
be
• Contact
your
healthcare
provider
if
two
completed
with
privacy
to
the
child.
treatment
regimens
have
failed
and
the
• The
screening
activities
will
be
at
the
child
continues
to
have
signs
of
head
lice
discretion
of
the
trained
health
office
staff
or
• Teach
children
not
to
share
personal
items
school
nurse.
such
as
hats,
combs,
hair
accessories,
etc.
• Families
will
be
notified
by
school
personnel
• Follow
the
14-‐Day
Treatment
Brochure
the
same
day
their
child
has
been
identified
“Facts
About
Head
Lice”
(Iowa
Department
with
head
lice
and
the
child
should
remain
of
Public
Health)
in
class
for
the
full
school
day
or
at
the
• Clean
the
home
including
vacuuming
the
discretion
of
the
parent.
floor
and
furniture
and
machine-‐wash
• Families
in
elementary
and
intermediate
clothing
and
bed
linens.
Clean
combs
and
classrooms
where
a
student
has
been
brushes
with
hot
soapy
water.
identified
as
having
lice
will
be
provided
written
information
to
monitor
and
screen
their
own
student.
Everyone’s
Role
in
Head
Lice
Management
• Know
the
Facts
of
Lice
1
QUESTIONS
AND
ANSWERS
ABOUT
LICE
1. What are head lice?
Head lice are insects that live and feed on the human scalp and lay between 50-90 eggs by attaching
them firmly with a glue like substance to the hair shaft. The adult is about the size of a sesame seed and
is brown to reddish brown. They move quickly away from light but cannot fly (they have no wings) or
jump. Lice die within 24 hours off the head. The eggs hatch in seven days and grow to adulthood in
about 2 weeks. They are most commonly found around the ears and along the neckline at the back of
the head.
2. Where do lice come from?
Head lice are insects that date back many centuries. They do not carry disease.
3. How does a person get head lice?
Lice can be spread during direct hair-to-hair contact with a person who has lice. Sharing pillows,
brushes, combs, hats or clothes recently used by someone with head lice can also spread lice. Pets do not
spread head lice. It is estimated that 95% of cases are spread through person-to-person contact while
only 5% comes from indirect contact.
4. What are the symptoms of head lice?
Often, the first sign is itching at the back of the head and around the ears. Not everyone will experience
itching. If you notice your child repeatedly scratching his or her head, you should examine the head for
nits or bugs. Also, irritability and difficulty sleeping can be signs of head lice as they are most active in
the dark. Sores on the head caused by scratching can also be a sign and symptom of head lice, which can
lead to infections from bacteria on the skin.
5. How long does it take for a person to develop symptoms?
It can take up to 2-3 weeks for symptoms to appear. Some people may never develop symptoms.
6. Should I treat everyone in the family when my child has lice?
No. If you are using a lice shampoo, treat only those persons with confirmed live head lice or nits within
1⁄4 inch of the scalp. All household members should be examined when an infestation has been
identified and all affected members should be treated.
7. What is the best way to get rid of lice?
If your child is identified as having lice, choose a safe and proven lice-killing shampoo. Follow the
package directions very carefully. Slowly comb through very small sections of hair with a nit-removing
comb. Remove any remaining nits. It is not necessary to cut the child’s hair. Follow the Iowa
Department of Public Health 14-Day Treatment Plan.
2
8. Do lice shampoos kill the insects and their eggs?
These products may kill some of the bugs, but do not kill nits. There is a product available by
prescription only called Sklice that has been clinically proven to kill both the live lice and their eggs;
contact your healthcare provider for more information on Sklice (Sanofi Pasteur, 2012).
9. Can I use pet shampoo?
Animal treatments are not safe or effective.
10. Do mayonnaise, oil, lotions, creams, vinegar, kerosene, gasoline, or electronic combs really work in
treating this problem?
Some people think these methods are effective in removing nits or bugs, but there is no current scientific
evidence to support these practices.
11. What will prevent my child from getting lice?
You cannot completely prevent your child from being affected by lice. You CAN instruct your child to
avoid sharing personal items with others. Check your child’s head periodically for signs of lice.
12. Should I disinfect/clean the inside of my home?
It is not necessary to spend a lot of time or money on cleaning your home. A simple cleaning of the
home including vacuuming the floor and furniture and machine washing clothing and bed linens is
generally all that is needed. For items that are not machine washable or able to be dry-cleaned, placing
them in a sealed plastic bag for 2 weeks is sufficient. Items such as combs and brushes should be soaked
in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Caution is advised when using lice killing sprays as they can be toxic if
inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
3
14 DAY TREATMENT FOR HEAD LICE
(Iowa Department of Public Health)
4
REFERENCES
Center for Disease Control website for Lice:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/lice/factsht_head_lice.htm
Iowa Department of Public Health Fact Sheet for Head Lice
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/common/pdf/epi_manual/lice.pdf
Iowa Department of Public Health 14-Day Head Lice Treatment brochure
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hcci/common/pdf/headlice_brochure.pdf
National Association of School Nurses Pediculosis Position Statement
http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=237
Mottram, P. (2000). Research report on the effectiveness of hair conditioner as a
non-chemical agent to control head lice. Brisbane: Queensland Health.
Pollack, R. J., Kiszeweski, A. E., & Spielman, A. (2000). Over diagnosis and
consequent mismanagement of head louse infestations in North America. Pediatric
Infectious Diseases , 19, 689-693.
Rollins, J. A. (2010). Back to school? The 'No Nit' policy. Pediatric Nursing , 36
(5), 236-237. Sanofi Pasteur. (2012). Introducing Sklice (Ivermectin) Lotion, 0.5%.
Swiftwater: Sanofi Pasteur
Inc. Williams, L. K., Reichert, A., MacKenzie, W. R., Hightower, A. W., & Blake,
P. A. (2001).
Lice, nits, and school policy. Pediatrics , 107 (5), 1011-1015.
May
2015
5
