Adopted:          01/20/1992

Revised:           09/15/2008                                                                              453.1

School District of Prairie Farm

Head Lice Guidelines

Students with head lice may be removed from the classrooms and/or school until they have received proper treatment in accordance with District policies.

SUSPECTED HEAD LICE:

The following signs may be reason to suspect a student of having head lice:

1. The student complains of itching on the scalp or is observed repeatedly scratching behind ears, nape of the neck or anywhere else in the scalp area.

2. The student has a pink rash around or in the scalp area.

3. The student has nits (eggs) on the hair shaft.

4. The student has live lice present in their hair.

INSPECTION FOR HEAD LICE:

The District School Nurse, if available or any district personnel trained in head lice inspection, as appointed by the School Principal, can conduct inspection for head lice.

1. Students should be inspected in a private, well-lighted area.

2. A clean tongue depressor, applicator stick may be used to separate the hair. Gloves may also be used, if desired. Carefully inspect all areas of the scalp looking for nits and/or live lice.

3. Nits (eggs) are small whitish-tan ovals (teardrop) cemented to the hair shaft that are normally laid close to the scalp behind the ears, crown and back of neck. Nits can survive off the body 7-10 days under ideal conditions. They can be differentiated from dandruff or other materials on the hair since the nits cannot be easily removed or won’t flake off.

4. Adult lice are not generally larger than a sesame seed. Adult lice avoid light and are more difficult to see. Proper lighting and separation of the hair is necessary for inspection of adult lice. Adult lice do not fly or jump, but are good crawlers (2-12 inches per minute).

5. Personnel inspecting the student must be sensitive to the situation and not convey the message that the student is “dirty” to touch: the student has no control over the problem. Personnel conducting the inspection must remain calm and reassuring.

6. Remove gloves, if worn, and wash hands with soap and water upon completing the inspection.

EXCLUSION FOR HEAD LICE:

The School Principal shall be informed of all students excluded because of head lice.

1. ALL students with live head lice shall be automatically excluded from school. The student shall be kept at school (not in the classroom) until the parent/guardian or the designated emergency contact person is notified.

2. The student may return to school after shampooing with head lice shampoo. A student should not miss more than one day of school following treatment. Should chronic re-infestation occur in individuals, the school may request that additional measures be taken prior to re-admission. Truancy laws will apply to students missing excessive amounts of school due to head lice infestation.

3. Recommendations for treatment may be offered by Health Services Staff.

4. Students in the classroom shall receive a notice informing parents to check/watch for possible head lice infestation.

STUDENT READMISSION AFTER HEAD LICE:

Students can be readmitted to school after shampooing with head lice shampoo and removal of nits has been initiated.

1. The parent/guardian will be given a copy of the treatment verification form. The student shall not be readmitted to school without this signed form. The school does not require absence of nits for students to return to school.

2. Students will be inspected upon return to school and periodically until student is free of nits by District School Nurse or designated District personnel to determine if re-infestation has occurred. If re-infestation is suspected follow above guidelines for exclusion from school.

3. The District School Nurse(s) is available to counsel/assist parents/guardians in treatment of head lice and measures to prevent re-infestation of their child.

FOLLOW-UP CARE:

If head lice are not treated judiciously and nits removed, chronic re-infestation shall occur.

1. Siblings attending the District schools may also receive head inspections if there are repeated occurrences.

2. Contact shall be made to the parents for follow-up. The parents shall be reminded that they MUST adequately:

• Treat the head

• Remove the nits

• Clean the environment

3. A referral shall be made to the local public health agency when appropriate.

4. School personnel should assure that the caps/hats are placed in the sleeves of the jackets and then hung on individual hooks.

5. Classroom inspections may be done if there are more then two students with lice in the same classroom. Routine classroom inspections will NOT be done, as they are disruptive, time consuming and often a nonproductive measure.

6. Students excluded with nits shall be allowed to return when ALL the nits are removed. They shall be monitored closely and periodically receive a head inspection for reoccurrence of lice/nits.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF HEAD LICE INFESTATIONS:

1. Only information needed for the purpose of assuring notification of the appropriate parties involved and for prevention of further outbreaks should be noted. All information shall be kept in confidence in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations.

2. Treatment verification forms are to be considered and treated as health records.

REPORTING HEAD LICE:

1. Head lice infestations are not a reportable condition in Wisconsin or at the national level. It is not necessary for the school or parent/guardian to notify the local health department of cases.

2. Parents are requested to report to the school cases of head lice infestation that they discover in order to help control outbreaks.

LIMITING OUTBREAKS OF HEAD LICE:

1. The school reserves the right to inspect other known household contacts attending school in an effort to stem outbreaks in other classes.

2. Treatment recommendations may be offered to parent/guardian by Health Services staff.

3. District School Nurse(s) shall monitor environmental conditions and be responsible for making recommendations to decrease transmission of head lice.

4. While no school can be entirely risk free from communicable disease. It is felt that efforts directed toward awareness and prevention shall result in fewer infestations and be cost and time effective.

LEGAL REFERENCES:

146.82(1) Confidentiality of health care records Wisconsin Statutes

121.02(1)(i) School district standards Wisconsin Statutes

HSS 145.06(1), Wisconsin Administrative Code

453 Communicable Disease District Policy

OTHER REFERENCES:

1. A Public Health Guide For The PREVENTION, CONTROL AND TREATMENT

OF HEAD LICE INFESTATIONS IN SCHOOLS. Department of Health and Family

Services Communicable Disease Section Bureau of Public Health. POH 4935(3/98)

2. Home Treatment Guide For Head Lice. NDMA

3. Department of Health and Human Services.

4. CDC Fact Sheet – Head Lice Infestation (Revised August 18, 2005)