- Lice are small, grayish-white, wingless bugs, about the size of a sesame seed. They can have a reddish-brown appearance.
- Lice cannot jump or hop, and they do not have wings.
- Lice are easily spread through direct head-to-head contact.
- Lice can be passed by sharing head coverings, such as helmets, hats, and hair accessories.
Treatment MUST be done at the same time as cleaning the living environment. For children traveling between parents, share this information with everyone involved. Head lice are very common and it can affect everyone within the household. Everyone in the household must be checked.
Head lice can cause attention problems in school children. Most children will have a “tickly” or “itchy” sensation, but not always. The older the child, the less likely they are to communicate with parents. If you have older children in the house, make sure that you check and treat them yourself. Do not leave it up to them; everyone needs help.
Follow the steps below to help us control head lice in our school:
Visit cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head to see exactly what lice and eggs (nits) look like.
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In the strongest, natural light possible, check your child’s head carefully for lice and eggs. Lice lay eggs approximately 1/8” from the scalp. The further down the hair shaft the eggs are found will indicate how long your child has had head lice. Lice eggs can be tiny.
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If you find lice, treat as directed at cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/treatment or speak to your medical provider.
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After you have treated and inspected your child’s head, you must clean the child’s living environment before the child returns to it. If you are a custodial parent, please make sure to share this with other guardians of your child. Cleaning includes vacuuming your home and bedding, and washing linens.
Our school health office may inspect students or employees in close head to head contact or someone who exhibits symptoms of itchy scalp, but we do not restrict students or employees from attending school once an infestation has been treated. Many times head lice infestations may not have symptoms or be present weeks before symptoms occur. We encourage students not to share hats or clothing items and provide them with separate hooks/lockers for their clothing.
If you have any questions, please contact your school nurse.