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Head Lice in
Schools
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Head lice and school-age kids -
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Summary:
Head lice are common in school-age children
and outbreaks occur frequently. When outbreaks occur
schools should not respond with "no-nit" policies.
Instead head lice can be managed at home with
medicated shampoos or lotions and proper nit
combing.
Jack
DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext.
Entomologist (ret.)
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Head lice ("lice bugs") identification
This series of articles will help you identify and
get rid of head lice. There are three types of lice
(singular: louse) that can affect humans. Other
animals, like birds and mammals, have their own
species of lice but humans are host to the following
three species: Head lice (Pediculus
humanus capitis), body
lice (Pediculus humanus humanus)
and pubic
lice (Pthirus pubis).
Head lice are small (2-3mm ~1/8")
elongated, wingless insects that feed on the blood
of humans and a few other primates (see photo
right). They spend their entire lives in close
contact with their hosts. Both head lice and pubic
lice attach their eggs, the so called nits, to the head and
body hairs of their host whereas body lice lay their
nits in clothing. So, the location of nits, on clothing
versus hair, is a pretty reliable way
to tell head lice from body lice. Public lice look
very different but also attach their eggs to hairs.
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human
louse about 2 mm (1/16") long
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Common misspellings and
misnomers for head lice: headlice, cooties, lice bugs
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Lice infestations
Head lice are ectoparasites
(external, blood-feeding) and are especially
common in school-age children. They bite to obtain
blood much like mosquitoes and bites cause itchy
wounds but they do not transmit diseases.
Head lice are most common in kids
where they can be found in any group
regardless of socioeconomic level. Head lice are
generally transmitted by person to person contact
and sharing of personal items which is why they
tend to be more common in kids. However, anyone in
the family can become infested.
Unfortunately, head lice cause much
over-reaction and over-treatment by well-meaning
adults. They can be effectively managed
despite growing problems with insecticide resistance
to pyrethrum and permethrin, the medications in
popular OTC lice treatments.
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I
have argued for a long time that head lice are
no reason to keep kids out of school. It now
(2015) seems that the American Academy of Pediatrics
agrees.
In
a recent article
the AAP now recommends that:
- so
called "no-nit" policies should
be abandoned
- head
lice not be treated as a serious medical issue but
instead a simple nuisance
- head
lice not be considered an indication of unsanitary
conditions
- head
lice should be diagnosed by a pediatrician, not by
nit-screening at school
- excessive
cleaning at home is not needed
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Lice treatments
Head lice treatment is passionately
debated by parents, teachers and everyone concerned
about kid's health. The bottom line, however, is
that head lice are treatable, they are not a serious medical
concern, and they should not
be a reason for missed school days. Nit
(louse egg) removal, or "nit-picking", is the most
important step and hair can be treated with oils and
conditioners to aid combing to remove nits. Next,
medicated shampoos or creme rinses can be used to
kill immature and adult lice (see How To Safely Control Head
Lice for the detailed steps to follow for safe
and effective lice control).
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