LICE TIPS

Head lice have been making the rounds in the Fort Worth and surrounding area schools over the past few months. Amanda D, a mother of 2 elementary school children in Fort Worth, called us to say "I treated my kids and continue to check their hair, but I don’t know whether I got everything out. I thought I did but now I see the older one scratching again. Kids in her class still have it. Is it possible that she got it again?”

We get it. You have tried various ways to get rid of these unwanted pests, but just when you think they are gone, they are baaacck! Why is so hard to eliminate lice?

Schools in Saint Paul do not enforce strict a “no nit” policy for head lice.

Students in schools in Taylorsville and Kearns, in the Granite School District, are discretely removed from the classroom if live head lice are found. If nits alone are found, the student may remain in the classroom.

The following school districts reside in Bucks County, and most follow Pennsylvania State policies advising against strict “no nit” policies: Bensalem, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Centennial, Central Bucks, Council Rock, Morrisville, Neshaminy, New Hope-Solebury, Palisades, Pennridge, Pennsbury, and Quakertown Community.

Head lice can be difficult to treat for several reasons. One of the major challenges to successfully treating lice is that the bugs and nits are hard to find in the hair. That is where a bright lamp can help.

LiceDoctors is busy in the Boston area...busy helping families like yours conquer head lice. How many cases of head lice are found in the Boston area each year? That number is hard to come by but we do know that in almost every city in the US, the 18-22 year old cohort is very unlikely to present with lice. Not so in the Boston area. Why is that?

We have all heard that if you share hats, you are at risk of contracting head lice. But is that the most likely way to get head lice? Is it even possible that you will get head lice from sharing hats or sports helmets?

Schools in Sandy, Utah in the Canyon School District adhere to recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) and do not have a “no nit” school” lice policy. Schools in the Jordan School District do not have a “no nit” school lice policy. However, students found with live bugs can return to school the following day after treatment.

Each school district has its own set of rules regarding when it is allowed for a child with lice or nits to return. While more and more schools are dropping their strict “no nit” lice policies, it is important for you to learn what your school policy is.