Pediculosis, also known as head lice, is a common condition in the school-age child. Pediculosis is a nuisance but has not been shown to spread disease. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school is not related to getting head lice.
The school principal or designee may screen students for head lice. If nits (egg cases) or lice are present, the student will be excluded from school until the student is nit- and lice-free or until a licensed physician, public health nurse, school nurse, or other person authorized by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare determines that the student is no longer contagious. If the principal or designee later suspects or determines that the student is again contagious, the student will be excluded from school until the student meets the criteria set forth below.
CASE FINDING
1. At the beginning of each academic year, all students, Kindergarten through grade five (K-5), may be examined for head lice. Any new student may be examined upon request for entry to school.
2. When a case is found, all the students in the same classroom will be examined. Also, a notification of head lice letter will be sent home to the parent/guardian of each student in the classroom the same day the case of head lice is discovered. See Policy No. 563F1.
3. If five (5) or more students in one school appear to be infested, an examination of the entire school will be done.
a. With five (5) infested students in one school, examinations of the entire school will be done every two (2) weeks.
b. During the intervening period, the health care provider will reexamine the infested students.
ADMINISTRATIVE HANDLING
1. Each infestation will be recorded, identifying the student’s name, age, grade, teacher, bus number, date the infestation was discovered, type of treatment, and date student returned to school after treatment.
2. The parent/guardian of an infested student will be requested orally and in writing to come to school and take the student home at the end of the school day. The parent/guardian will be shown some of the nits in order to:
a. Demonstrate that the student is infested; and
b. Enable the parent/guardian to see what a nit or louse looks like and, thus, gain the information needed to examine other family members for infestation.
3. Proof of treatment (note from physician or shampoo box top) must be given to the principal or designee prior to the student returning to school. The student will be reexamined for active pediculosis before readmission. If the student returns without proof of treatment, and if the principal or designee suspects or determines that the student is still contagious, the student may be refused readmission to school and sent home with a copy of a second letter to the parent/guardian. The parent/guardian will also be sent a separate letter. If a student has been treated at least twice and is still coming to school with active pediculosis, the parent/guardian will be required to bring the student to school for seven (7) continuous school days to be checked before regular admission to school will be allowed.
4. If the principal or designee determines that the family cannot afford treatment, the principal may:
a. Request direct follow-up by the local health department; or
b. Arrange for medication to treat the infested student and infested members of his or her household. Medication may be furnished by the school district or by the principal or designee.
PREVENTING TRANSMISSION
1. When an outbreak of pediculosis occurs at school, classroom activities involving body-to-body or head-to-body contact between students will be temporarily suspended.
2. During an outbreak, group work around classroom tables will be temporarily suspended or every other chair spacing used.
3. During an outbreak, students riding school buses will be required to sit in assigned seats limited to two (2) students per seat.
4. During an outbreak, teachers are required to:
a. Assign coat hooks in the classroom.
b. Encourage students to keep hats in coat sleeves or pockets.
c. Segregate clothes where adequate facilities for hanging coats are not available.
d. Suspend play on carpeted areas.
e. Encourage students not to share combs, brushes, towels, hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, sports helmets, hair ribbons, or barrettes.
5. During an outbreak, the bedding in the sick room must be changed after it is used by a student and machine washed and dried using hot water (130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle.
6. Janitorial staff shall vacuum the floor and furniture where the infested student sat or lay.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
LEGAL REFERENCE:
Idaho Code §33-512(7) (Governance of Schools)
IDAPA 16.02.10.025.090 (Reportable Diseases)
Center for Disease Control & Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/prevent.html
Central District Health Department: http://www.cdhd.idaho.gov/CD/public/factsheets/headlice.htm
ADOPTED: May 18, 2021
AMENDED:
NOTE: In September, 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued information regarding head lice and indicated both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses advocate that “no-nit” policies should be discontinued.” While the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, in its administrative rules, lists pediculosis as a disease or condition, there is no reporting requirement. On the other hand, the National Pediculosis Association continues to recommend the “No-Nit Policy” as the public health standard intended to keep children lice free, nit free, and in school.
(Form)