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Head Lice
Head lice are tiny insects that make their home in human hair. Anyone can get lice and it is fairly common in school-age children. They are not a sign of poor hygiene and lice are not known to spread infectious disease.
Most commonly, head lice are spread by direct head-to-head contact with someone who has head lice. Lice crawl; they do not jump or fly. They may also be spread by sharing personal items such as combs, brushes, other hair-care items, towels, pillows, hats, and other head coverings. Dogs, cats, and other pets do not spread head lice.
Because lice are common in childhood, it is important to check your children’s hair for head lice on a regular basis.
In general, our school practice includes the following:
- When a child is identified with an active head lice infestation at school, parents will be notified. Your child can remain at school, and then should be treated before returning to school.
- Your child’s health information will be kept private.
- Treatment should begin at home, as soon as possible, once you are aware that your child has lice.
- Check everyone at home if one person in the home has head lice. Health Office Staff can help by checking siblings at school upon request.
- Mass lice screenings at school are not performed.
- Please let the Health Office know if your child has lice.
New lice information on SLP Health Services website:
https://www.slpschools.org/about/departments/health-services
Resources
Minnesota Department of Health Lice Information:
Contact your child’s healthcare provider if home treatments are not effective. If you do not have a healthcare provider, contact the school Health Office for resources. Local pharmacies carry over-the-counter lice removal kits. Approximate prices range from $10-$35. To find professional organizations, search Google for “Lice Removal Near Me.” These services can be quite expensive. Ask if they have a sliding scale fee based on income.
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