If AAP (The American Academy of Pediatrics) has their way, your kid may be itching more while at school too. On Monday, July 26, AAP issued a recommendation to keep children with lice in school. They also recommend abandoning no-nit policies where children are not allowed to return to school until all signs of nits (lice eggs) are gone.
What, Exactly, is Lice?
Head lice, those annoying parasites most associated with filthy children, don’t actually have any connection to being dirty. In fact, lice thrive better in very clean hair than in oily, dirty hair. Head lice also don’t carry any known disease. So, while itching isn’t fun and I don’t like the idea of bugs on my little guy, our children aren’t in any danger from having or being around kids with head lice. Missing school, on the other hand, can cause kids to fall behind and can be a financial strain on working parents.
Lice can’t jump, so the number one recommendation to prevent spread of lice is to avoid sharing things that touch your kid’s head—hats, helmets, bows, pillows.
Treatment Options
If your child does come home with lice, there are several options for treatment.
Most Recommend
- Permethrin 1% topical lotion applied per product recommendations and repeated in 7-10 days. Also, NIX or RID brand products.
Most Natural
- Wet combing— Physically removing the lice with a lice/nit comb
- Cetaphil Cleanser – This is the same product you may use to clean your face and doesn’t have the concerns of toxicity that other products may have. Apply to hair then, after 2 minutes, comb out excess and blow your child’s hair dry. Eight hours later shampoo the hair working to remove all nits. Repeat weekly as needed.
If those Fail
In some areas of the country lice have become resistant to over the counter products. In these cases, it’s best to talk to your doctor because s/he will know the best treatment for your area. Other options include:
- Malathion: highly flammable, use extreme caution and never use a hair drier.
- Lindane: Toxicity is possible, but not common. Is avoided in children under 2 and pregnant women.
- Ivermectin: A prescription, oral tablet for resistant lice.
Your doctor or pharmacist can help you figure out the best way to treat lice in your family.
I found a flea on my little guy the other day and freaked out. I’m not sure how I would handle lice. Just thinking about them gets my head itching.
What do you think? Would you send your kid to school with lice? What would you think if he came home with lice?
Laura E
August 12, 2010I would not send my kid to school with lice. I think its awful that they recommend to keep kids in school with lice. What about the parents who’s kids get lice from the kid allowed to stay in the classroom and have to be off work cleaning the house to insure the rest of the family doesn’t get it. It’s a huge process to get everything cleaned and bagged in your house once lice has been there. I’m lucky I have not had to go through it and hope I never do but being an elementary teacher I have heard stories from other teachers.
Mary Williams
August 12, 2010No way would I send my kid to school or daycare with lice. It’s not fair to the other children for children with lice to be kept in school. Like the previous commenter said, it’s a huge process to get rid of the lice…which would result in more time at work lost. Keep the kids at home if they have lice…no one else wants to have to deal with it too.
On a side note, there was a lice breakout at my sons daycare…I bought Coconut shampoo and Luke never got it. I just bought the Suave for kids shampoo. I think it’s something with the smell of coconut that the lice don’t like. We use it everyday now.
Using coconut oil is a great idea. It looks like products with olive oil might help too.
Monica
August 12, 2010No way.
Melissa P. @Mel4Him
August 12, 2010This recommendation by the AAP is crazy. I have a co-worker whose daughter came home with lice 8+ times during the school year. She was furious. She even talk to the principal of the school and wrote to the school board. I believe there was a child in her daughter’s class that had head lice and the parent never treated her daughter and still sent her to school. My coworkers daughter never shared any items with this child but she still got head lice. My coworker had to clean everything in her home every single time. She was even forced to have her daughters hair cut really short because of it. Her poor daughter was so upset every time thinking she was dirty and why did she keep getting it. She would cry every time her mom had to treat her head for the lice. She had to keep her daughter out of school for those days as well. Not only should parents not send their child to school with head lice but if a child is suspected of having head lice she should be sent home and not allowed to return to school until it is completely gone. Head lice may not cause an illnesses to the child but it can damage a child’s emotional well-being and cause stress on the parents who have to clean up after the mess.
Gena
August 12, 2010When I hear of an outbreak, I wash all the kids hair in Melaleuca. Something about the Tea Tree Oil they don’t like. But I will not send my girls to school if they have lice. It can be taken care of in a matter of days. I do think it’s stupid that we have to have a nurse or dr note saying they are lice free. I think if they are going to make us get those, they should be free checks.
debp
August 12, 2010I completely disagree with this change in policy. Watch, in a year from now, we will have a huge jump in lice infestations.
Jeanne
August 12, 2010As a teacher and parent I do not agree with this recommendation. Lice might not e fatal, but are very difficult to exterminate and make life very hard for the child and parents affected. Children are missing school for one or two days, and working parents should step up to the plate and accept responsibility for their child’s care.
Tricia @Night OWL Mama
August 15, 20101 week after school started last yr I delt with Head lice for 6 Freeking Weeks. 1st my daughter then my boys then me….all were clean a two weeks later my daughter brought it home again!! AGAIN! I can’t tell you how freeking Mad I was. I just CUT her hair off UP TO her shoulders …DID it again this yr to be safe for when she starts school
the FIRST MONTH of school I highly recommend you to put your daughters hair up. PONY tails, braids, A bun NEVER leave i’d done and flowing. Express the importance of not sharing combs, hats and sweaters. If possible tell your child to put their coat in their back pack if they hang it on hooks next to other children It will avoid lice walking from coat to coat. ICCCK I hate those icky little….