Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis)

head lice parent information

Cause

Pediculosis Capitis, the head louse which infests the hair on the head.

Signs and Symptoms

Tickling feeling of something moving in the hair.
Itching, caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of the head louse.
Irritability and difficulty sleeping; head lice are most active in the dark.
Sores on the head caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with bacteria found on the person's skin.

Transmission

Head lice move by crawling; they cannot hop or fly.
Head-to-head contact with an already infested person.
Dogs, cats, and other pets do not play a role in the spread of head lice.

Period of Communicability

Head Lice cannot survive long without a HUMAN host.
To live, adult lice need to feed on blood several times daily.
Without blood meals, the louse will die within 1 to 2 days off the host.

Helpful Hints

The life cycle of the head louse has three stages: egg, nymph, and adult.
Nits are head lice eggs. Nits take about 1 week to hatch (range 6 to 9 days).
The egg hatches to release a nymph, they become adults in about 7 days after hatching.
The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has 6 legs (each with claws), and is tan to grayish-white in

Preventive Measures

See "Administrative Guidelines for Dealing with Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice) for School Personnel".
Conduct periodic head lice screening throughout the school as indicated and examine siblings, close friends and playmates of the infested student.

Implications for School

NO NITs or LIVE LICE

Exclude any student with live lice or nits.
Student must be accompanied by parent/guardian for a follow-u p head check by school personnel for clearance to return to school.
If Head Lice becomes chronic or persistent, a referral to the school social worker is needed.

UPON RETURN TO SCHOOL

Parents are expected to accompany students to school for re-inspection by school staff/nurse before a student may re-enter school. You must continue to remove nits or in 7 to 10 days they will hatch and live lice will be present again. Students are allowed a total of 5 excused absences for the treatment of head lice. The principal will make a referral to the school Social Worker if the problem persists or becomes chronic. The school social worker will make an assessment of the situation and follow-up as appropriate.