Head Lice

Head lice are a common problem, especially among school-aged children and their families. Head lice can be a nuisance but they have not been shown to spread disease. Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice, in fact lice prefer clean hair, free of gel, mousse, hairspray, etc. Using such products can deter lice.

What to Do

If your child has been found to have live lice, the parent/guardian will be contacted by school nurse. The child should be treated that evening prior to returning to school.

Rockwood follows the CDC guidelines in treating head lice (pediculosis).

When a child is identified as having active head lice at school, the child’s parent/guardian is notified and provided with information about treatment. Students will be sent home at the end of the day and may return to school after they have received treatment at home. School nurses will work with families to ensure proper treatment and management of head lice. Rockwood follows the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics and does not exclude students from school because of head lice or nits.

School nurses will inform parents/guardians when there is an unusual clustering of head lice cases in a particular classroom, grade level, or building. Continued communication and collaboration with the school nurse will reduce the stigma of head lice, clarify myths, and provide accurate information about effective treatment options.

Head Lice Resources

To prevent and control the spread of head lice, the Centers for Disease Control recommends several precautions to avoid situations that may allow head lice to travel from one person to another. Please encourage your child to avoid head-to-head contact during activities and discourage your child from sharing clothing, hair accessories, or combs and brushes with others.

We encourage families to check their child’s head weekly at home, and report any cases of active head lice to your school nurse. For information on how to check your child’s head for lice you can visit Head Lice: What Parents Need to Know on Healthy Children.org, a website of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

If you suspect your child is infested with head lice please notify the school nurse. Other members of your family should be inspected for head lice as well. For information on how to treat your child's head lice, consult your family physician, a local pharmacist, or contact the school nurse for recommendations.