WPS Protocol for head lice - Westford Public Schools

WPS Protocol forhead lice:1. If you suspect your childhas head lice, pleasecontact your child’shealth care providerregarding appropriatetreatment.2. Contact your child’sschool nurse if your childis diagnosed as havinghead lice.3. If head lice arediagnosed, do not allowyour child to return toschool until the morningafter the first treatment,nit removal, and cleaningof personal items. Youmust accompany yourchild to the clinic uponreentry into school.Your child may return toclass only if he/she isnit-free. The schoolnurse will also recheckyour child 7-10 daysafter treatment.Continue to check yourchild’s hair daily for 10-14 days after treatmentand regularly thereafter.4. Please reinforce withyour child theimportance of notsharing hats, scarves,coats, and personalitems (especiallybrushes, combs and hairornaments).Illustration of egg on ahair shaft (CDC photo)-----------------------Nymph form(CDC photo)

------------------------Adult louse (CDCphoto)WestfordPublicSchoolsShaping the future onechild at a timeHead LiceWho is at risk for gettinghead lice?“Head lice are foundworldwide. In the UnitedStates, infestation with headlice is most common amongpreschool children attendingchild care, elementaryschool children, and thehousehold members ofinfested children. Althoughreliable data on how manypeople in the United Statesget head lice each year arenot available, an estimated6 million to 12 millioninfestations occur each yearin the United States amongchildren 3 to 11 years ofage”.-CDC (Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention)Facts about head lice** Nits (the eggs of the head louse)are small yellowish-white, ovalshapedeggs that are “glued to theside of a hair shaft” at an angle.* Nits must be laid by live lice.You cannot “catch nits.”* Once laid, it takes 7-10 days fora nit to hatch, and another 7-10days for the female to mature andbegin laying her own eggs.* Head lice are clear in color whenhatched, and then quickly developa reddish-brown color afterfeeding,* Head lice are about the size ofsesame seeds.* Head lice have six legs equippedwith claws to grasp the hair.* Head lice are crawling insects.They cannot hop, jump, or fly.* Head lice do not thrive on pets.*Head lice are small, winglessinsects that feed on human blood.They need human blood in order tosurvive.

* Head lice live for approximately30 days on a host and a femalelouse may lay up to 100 nits(eggs).* Head lice off of their humanhosts will starve. The NPAsuggests that, in most cases, ahead louse will not survive formore than 24 hours off of itshuman host.10 Steps to Help Keep HeadLice and Their Eggs Out ofYour Child’s Hair*1. Watch for signs of head lice,such as frequent head scratching.Anyone can get head lice…mainlyby head to head contact but alsofrom sharing hats, brushes andheadrests. Lice do not jump or fly.2. Check all family members forlice and nits (lice eggs) at leastonce a week. Only those infestedshould be treated. Lice arereddish-brown wingless insects;nits are grayish-white, always ovalshaped, and are glued at an angleto the side of the hair shaft.3. Be sure not to confuse nits withhair debris such as bright whiteirregularly-shaped clumps ofdandruff stuck to the hair shaft orelongated segments of dandruffencircling the hair shaft and easilydislodged. Lice treatment is notappropriate for hair debris.4.Consult your pharmacist orphysician before applying or usinglice treatment pesticides when theperson involved is pregnant,nursing, has allergies, asthma,epilepsy, other pre-existingmedical conditions, or has lice ornits in the eyebrows or eyelashes.Never use a pesticide on or nearthe eyes.5. Remember, all lice-killingproducts are pesticides. If youchoose to purchase an over-thecountertreatment, follow thedirections carefully and use withcaution. The NPA stronglydiscourages prescriptiontreatments containing lindane.Based on increasing reports ofpossible insect resistance on anational level, the NPA advisesparents to discontinue their use atthe earliest sign of treatmentfailure. MANUAL REMOVAL IS THEBEST OPTION WHENEVERPOSSIBLE AND ESPECIALLY WHENTREATMENT PRODUCTS HAVEFAILED.6. Follow package directionscarefully. Use the product overthe sink, not in the tub or shower.Always keep the eyes covered.7. Remove all nits. This assurestotal lice treatment. Separate hairin sections and remove allattached nits with a lice comb,baby safety scissors, or yourfingernails.8. Wash bedding and recentlyworn clothing in hot water and dryin a hot dryer. Combs and brushesmay be soaked in hot water (notboiling) for 10 minutes.9. Avoid lice sprays! Vacuuming isthe safest and best way to removelice or fallen hairs with attachednits from upholstered furniture,rugs, stuffed animals and carseats.10. Notify your child’s school,camp, child care provider andneighborhood parents. Check forlice on a regular basis. This is thebest way to protect your familyand community.Source: National PediculosisAssociationFor additional information contactyour school nurse or the HealthDepartment at 978-692-5509.

1/2010 jmc