Kids with head lice don’t need to leave school: report

Well being consultants on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say kids do not must be despatched residence from college if they’ve head lice.

The Illinois-based affiliation of pediatricians issued a scientific report on Monday, Sept. 26, which states lice should not a “well being hazard” as a result of they don’t seem to be related to illness and have a low transmission fee.

“There’s vital stigma ensuing from head lice infestations in high-income international locations, leading to kids and adolescents being ostracized from their colleges, buddies, and different social occasions,” the AAP’s report stated. “Head lice might be psychologically hectic to the affected person.”

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The AAP recommends towards “no-nit” insurance policies that prohibit college students from attending college whereas having a lice infestation.

The affiliation warned that such insurance policies have not been confirmed to be efficient and will put a college at authorized threat as a result of it might violate the civil liberties of scholars.

Caregivers and medical professionals ought to as an alternative concentrate on offering lice schooling and remedy, in accordance with the AAP.

Therapy choices embody pediculicides – lice killing brokers – authorized by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration, together with permethrin 1% lotion, pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide shampoo, ivermectin 0.5% lotion or an ivermectin 3-milligram pill, malathion 0.5% lotion and spinosad 0.9% suspension.

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Various therapies the AAP recommends embody utilizing botanical brokers for killing or repelling lice, occlusive brokers, desiccants and guide elimination.

– Botanical brokers for killing or repelling lice: Numerous important oils, comparable to Ageratum, Aloysia, Aniba, Annona, Cananga [ylang ylang], Cinnamomum, Cocos, Curcuma, Elletaria, Eucalyptus, Eugenia, Geranium, Heliantus, Juniperus, Lavandula, Lippia, Litsea, Melaleuca, Melia, Mentha, Monarda, Myrcianthes, Origanum, Pimpinella, Rosmarinus, Salvia, Schinus, Tagetes, tea tree, Zingiberaceae or citronella

– Occlusive brokers: Residence treatments made with petrolatum, mayonnaise, melted butter or margarine, olive oil, dimethicone or face cleanser

– Desiccants: Natrum muriaticum, isopropyl myristate or an AirAllé machine

– Guide elimination: Bodily and digital nit combs, vinegar-based merchandise or hair shaving

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Caregivers and college personnel who’re with out well being care backgrounds ought to contact medical professionals if single or community-wide lice infestations present resistance towards over-the-counter therapies, the AAP’s report stated.

The AAP additionally famous that lice can not hop or soar and may solely journey by crawling – which means transmission normally happens between individuals who have direct contact with lice-infested hair.

A barber cuts a baby’s hair with scissor at a barbershop.
(iStock)

Head-to-head contact is the most typical transmission technique, however oblique unfold can occur by when somebody makes contact with private belongings which are shared with a lice-infested individual, comparable to combs, brushes, hats and sports activities helmets. 

These oblique transmission strategies are “a lot much less more likely to happen,” in accordance with the AAP.

“Lice discovered on combs are more likely to be injured or lifeless, and a louse will not be more likely to depart a wholesome head until there’s a heavy infestation,” the AAP wrote in its up to date report.

“In a single examine, dwell lice have been discovered on solely 4% of pillowcases utilized by infested individuals,” the AAP continued. “Thus, the most important focus of management actions needs to be to cut back the variety of lice on a person’s head and to reduce the dangers of head-to-head contact.”

Lice are wingless parasitic bugs that may be discovered on human heads, eyebrows, eyelashes and different hair-covered physique elements.
(iStock)

The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) agrees with the AAP’s stance on head lice in colleges.

The nationwide well being company acknowledges that lice is usually a “nuisance” on its “Head Lice Info for Faculties” webpage, however the CDC goes on to say that these parasitic bugs have not been proven to unfold illness and aren’t an indicator of poor private hygiene or cleanliness.

“College students recognized with dwell head lice don’t must be despatched residence early from college; they will go residence on the finish of the day, be handled, and return to class after acceptable remedy has begun,” the CDC wrote. “Nits might persist after remedy, however profitable remedy ought to kill crawling lice.”