Dear Parents and Guardians,
As students return to school for Term 2, we would like to take a moment to remind you about the importance of checking for head lice in your child’s hair. This is vital, as head lice have already been reported across the EYFS and Primary phases.
As a precaution, it is recommended that your child be checked regularly for signs of live lice or nits. If lice are detected, students may return to school as soon as treatment has been initiated and all live lice and eggs are removed. Head lice transfer from person to person via close contact and bedding or clothing, so it is good practice to check siblings and any adults living in the house. Lice prefer healthy, clean hair and are not a reflection of poor hygiene.
Adult lice are brown or beige in appearance and lay eggs (referred to as nits) on individual strands of hair, close to the scalp. Both lice and nits are commonly found around the ears and nape of the neck. Nits have the appearance of tiny oval grains of sand; they are firmly attached to hair and will not fall off when touched or brushed. Removal requires pinching the nit between finger and thumb or using a fine-toothed nit comb to slide eggs off each hair. Once removed, clean fingers or comb with a damp paper towel.
Chemical treatment should only be used if living lice are found on the head. If you decide to use a pediculicide louse-killing shampoo, please check with your pharmacist or physician to choose the appropriate product for each family member. Carefully follow the directions on the package, and avoid over treating. Do not use conditioner within a day of chemical treatment as it will make the treatment ineffective.
To avoid re-infestation, completely remove all lice and nits. To ensure complete removal, the following steps are essential:
- Remove tangles; add conditioner to hair (where pediculicide has been used, start this process two days post treatment).
- Separate hair into sections, select a small section of hair and run comb from the scalp to hair end.
- Clean the comb after every stroke on a damp paper towel or under water.
- Rinse conditioner when finished.
This process should be repeated every other day for three weeks to eliminate lice throughout their full life cycle.
If you detect nits or eggs in your child’s hair, please inform the class teacher and school nurse. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact medical room staff.
Kind Regards
The Medical Team