Charleston Independent Schools 2016

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
ISD 9
Don’t be Bugged by
Head Lice
Why does head lice
sound like such a frightening
couple of words? When my
sister was in kindergarten
and I was in fourth grade,
she came down with a case
of head lice, and, when my
mother arrived in the parking lot of my school to pick me
up, my little sister jumped out of
the car and shouted with glee that
she didn’t have to go to school because she had headlights!
I was mortified, not by her mispronunciation but by
the fact that she had this gross affliction. I prided myself
on my long, blond
hair and was terrified
by the idea that if I
got anywhere near my
sister, I, too, would
have bugs crawling
through my hair.
Experts say head
lice or “nits” are
a nuisance, not a
serious disease or a
sign of poor hygiene.
Education is the
key to managing
a breakout of lice,
and the Charleston
County School
District Health Services Department offers a downloadable
document called “Head Lice Help” on its website. (www.
)
SignS of head lice:
• Frequent head scratching;
• Redness behind ears or on the back of the neck.
Head lice are most common among preschool and
elementary school age children and their household
members and caretakers. They are primarily transmitted
by direct head-to-head contact and sharing of personal
grooming items such as brushes, headphones, hair
accessories, helmets and hats. Once a family member is
identified with head lice, all household members should
be checked. The American Academy of Pediatricians does
not recommend excessive environmental cleaning, such
as home pesticides. However, “washing pillow cases and
treating natural bristle hair care items that may have been
in contact with the hair of anyone found to have head lice
are reasonable measures.”
how to get rid of head lice:
• Use a special shampoo (most lice shampoos need to
be used a second time, seven to 10 days after the first
treatment, to make
sure new lice that
hatched are killed;
• Nits can be removed
using a fine tooth
comb;
• In some areas,
lice have developed
resistance to
over-the-counter
medications and may
require prescription
medication.
In May 2015, the
American Academy
of Pediatrics updated
its report on head lice. The current recommendation says
a healthy child should not be restricted from attending
school because of head lice or nits (eggs): “Pediatricians are
encouraged to educate schools and communities that no-
nit policies are unjust and should be abandoned. Children
can finish the school day, be treated and return to school.”
The worst part about head lice is the inconvenience
factor. I was lucky that I avoided my sister’s case of
“headlights,” but, with two boys still in elementary and
middle school, my luck may run out. As parents, all we
can do is arm ourselves with information and a good
comb.
By Amy mErCEr