HEAD LICE   (PEDICULOSIS) OVERVIEW

• Head lice are yellowish-white insects that live on the human scalp.
• Lice do not have wings, and they cannot fly, hop, or jump.
• Head lice are about 1/8 of an inch long.
• They are difficult to see because they are small and move quickly.
• Itching of the scalp may be the first sign of head lice.
• Most often what you see are the oval eggs (nits) which have been laid by the lice. They are commonly found behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.
• Head lice is common, easily treated, and generally not associated with any serious medical complication.
• The status of a person’s cleanliness has nothing to do with having or getting head lice.
• You get head lice from another person by direct contact with that person’s head, combs, brushes, sleeping in the same bed, etc.
• It is most often transmitted from one person to another in children’s homes/neighborhoods when they play closely with one another, but more often when they have sleep-overs.
• It is recommended that you do not use the common shampoo products specifically to treat head lice unless you have a verified case, as most products contain insecticide.

 WCS Health Service’s procedure regarding head lice:

• When head lice are found on a student at school, close contacts are checked.  It is more important to check close contacts (usually siblings & friends who play together/have parties together also at home) than checking an entire classroom.
• The student is treated with head lice shampoo and nits (eggs) are removed at home or by a company which will issue a certificate of treatment.

•  Upon  return to school A HEAD CHECK IN THE CLINIC  TO DETERMINE THAT THERE ARE NO LIVE BUGS AND MOST OF THE NITS ARE GONE.  There is no specific time that a student has to remain at home.