Collin County's Health Care Services Department: Head Lice Season is Approaching (Oct. 2007)

"The public conception is that head lice are associated with poor hygiene, but that's just not the case," according to Janet Glowicz, Collin County epidemiologist. "Head lice actually prefer the clean hair of social people."

Head lice are spread by direct contact with infested people or materials. Lice do not jump or hop. Parents often consider that schools are prime locales for transmission of head lice. Other public places are just as popular with the parasite, including movie theaters, costume parties and slumber parties.

"Parents shouldn't panic," said Dr. Mike Merchant, entomologist for Texas Cooperative Extension. "Many children become infested with head lice at some point during their school years. Whenever kids come together in a classroom setting, especially after the carefree months of summer, head lice are going to happen."

In fact, having head lice is as common as having a cold. However, a common cold does not cause the emotional reaction some individuals may have. Head lice need not disrupt school or childhood friendships.

The county's health care staff and your school offer the following information and advice on the matter:

• Parents should periodically check their child's hair for lice or nits.
• A child with lice or nits must have at least one treatment and be nit-free before returning to school.
• One treatment is not likely to remove the nits; therefore parents must look closely through the child's hair & remove all nits before returning to school.
• A second treatment must be done in 7-10 days.
• Blaming the school or other parents is not an effective method of stopping the spread of head lice and can be very harmful to children who may feel stigmatized.

For more online information on this parasitic disease, visit www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth. For school policies on head lice infestations, look for information from the school nurse.