Most parents forget the fun of germs until school starts and the kids get sick. There’s something about those disease ridden, enclosed schools that spreads germs everywhere. Younger kids especially may not wash hands regularly and may share items best kept to themselves. However with a little coaching and preparation, you can keep your child safe and healthy during the school year.

Having head lice is an especially sensitive issue for many to talk about. While lice are harmless creatures, there is a stigma attached to those who have lice. When a child is found to have head lice, many assume the parents don’t bathe their child often enough. However, head lice are equal opportunity insects. They don’t care how clean or dirty the head is on which they live. All head lice care about is eating and producing eggs.

Head Lice Basics

Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp, feeding off human blood. They can be white, dark brown of gray colored, and can move very quickly between the hair. Lice can grow up to 3 millimeters and lay eggs, or nits, on the hair shafts. Nits will look similar to dandruff, but cannot be easily brushed from the head. Lice are very common, much more so than we would think.

Common Myths About Lice

There are many myths about lice and best ways to treat them. Here are the myths exposed.

• My dog gave my child lice – Lice live exclusively on humans. You cannot get lice from any animals
• Lice carry diseases – Lice actually do not carry any diseases. They’re quite harmless insects, looking only to eat your blood and reproduce.
• Lice will fly and jump from one person to another – Lice cannot fly or jump; they can crawl rapidly, and will crawl from one head to another if given the opportunity.
• My neighbor’s child has lice because they have poor hygiene – Lice don’t care how clean or dirty their host is; they only care about food. Homeless children are more likely to have lice because they cannot seek appropriate treatment.

Lice At School

Bear in mind that it is quite possible for your child to pick up lice from someone at school or daycare. Lice can live on the head for a month before the child experiences any itching. This long period allows the lice more opportunity to spread. Most schools have a “no nit” policy, where an inspection of the child’s head finds no nits whatsoever. However many school nurses today are saying this policy is a bit drastic, and pulls a child unnecessarily from classes. Many nurses are advocating a treatment policy, where if a child has had one lice treatment, they can come back to school.

Tips To Maintain Your Child’s Health At School

A healthy child will be more resistant to the germs that seem to be all over the schools. Promoting healthy practices in your child will go a long way to keeping your child healthy. Teaching your child to wash their hands can have a dramatic effect on their overall health.

To limit your child’s exposure to lice, consider the following:

• Don’t share scarves, hats or hoods.
• Don’t touch heads or put their head extremely close to another child.
• Have lice treatments and combs on hand
• Check your child’s head regularly for lice, even if they are not itching.
• Educate yourself on lice: what they look like, where they can be found and treatment methods.

Having head lice doesn’t have to keep your child out of school. When treated directly, your child can go right back to school. Be sure you maintain a positive attitude and reassure your child if they get teased at school. Lice are much more common than we think, and can be dealt with fairly quickly.

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