From the desk of your Health Care District School Nurse:

According to a recent article published in Pediatric Nursing, a spike in head lice cases is often seen after a school break. These are times when children commonly have sleepovers, go to camp, or visit relatives. Head lice are wingless insects with six legs. They cannot jump, fly or even crawl long distances. They are most readily spread by head-to-head contact. Schools are rarely a source for transmission, accounting for only approximately 1% of cases. Much more common sources are family members, overnight guests and playmates who spend a large amount of time together.

Itching of the head is the primary symptom. Head lice tend to be found behind the ears and the neckline at the back of the head. A full grown adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed and can be tan to grayish-white in color. Despite their tiny size, the eggs, called nits, are usually found more easily because they are not moving. Nits are oval-shaped and attached firmly to the hair. They can appear yellow, white or the color of the person's hair.

If you suspect your child has head lice, please contact your School Nurse for information regarding detection and treatment.

For more information about the Health Care District's School Health program, please visit their website.