https://hhs.iowa.gov/influenza/schools

Lice!  Just saying or hearing it can make one’s head itch.  So what is lice and what can you do about it?  Lice are tiny, parasitic insects that can live on some areas of the body such as the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes. They are  grayish-brown in color and smaller than a sesame seed.  The eggs of lice are called nits.  Nits attach to hair strands.  Nits can remain viable on clothing for about 1 month.  Head lice can survive for about a week off of their human host.  Lice are transmitted from person to person with close contact or by sharing personal items.  Lice may crawl from host to host, but they do not hop, jump, or fly. Lice has no social or economical preference….they don’t care how clean a head is, how often someone bathes, or how clean one’s environment is…..they just want hair and a scalp to call home.  Lice are not known to spread disease.  There are an estimated 6-12 million lice infestations in children ages 3-11 in the US each year (CDC).  To help prevent the spread of lice, children should not share clothing, hats, helmets, combs/brushes, or bedding.  Please periodically remind your child of this.   Some signs to watch for that might indicate your child has lice include an itchy scalp, a tickling sensation on the scalp, difficulty sleeping, and sores on the head from scratching.  It’s a good idea to check your child’s head weekly even if symptoms are not present.  It can take about 15 minutes to do a thorough check, especially in persons with longer, thicker hair.  Lice typically like to hang out behind the ears or on the back of the head near the neckline.  Laundering bedding and clothing and vacuuming floors, especially where persons with lice slept or sat can help get rid of lice. If clothing can’t be laundered, it can be sealed in a plastic bag for 2-3 weeks to help eliminate the lice or nits.  Various insecticide sprays are marketed to target head lice on inanimate objects such as helmets, furniture, and flooring, but these are very dangerous to children and are no longer recommended.  Children do not need to leave school or stay home if they have lice.  The 14 day treatment regimen can be done in the evening after school and students can return to class after appropriate treatment has begun.

You may see nits for several weeks after treatment, but live lice should no longer be visible.   If you find lice or nits, PLEASE let the school know.  We can’t help reduce the risk of transmission if we don’t know.  We will not single your child out or tell other parents about individual students.  

Head Lice Brochure in English
Head Lice Brochure in Spanish

https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/department-of-public-health

Risk of Tick Exposure and Tick Bites by the National Association of School Nurses

Tick-Borne Diseases Brochure