The National Pediculosis Association (NPA) recommends that schools and child
care facilities launch a head lice prevention campaign. Don't wait 'til there is
an outbreak at your facility to start thinking about prevention.
Lice are insects that feed on the blood of their host. They lay eggs attached
to the hair near the scalp. The NPA says that the manual or mechanical removal
of lice and nits from the hair is crucial no matter what treatment regimen is
chosen.
The NPA recommends the following head lice management program:
Educate in advance of outbreaks
Break down stigmas and myths
Learn how to identify lice and nits
Encourage routine lice screening
Promote early detection
Institute a "No Nit" policy
Identify lice killing products as pesticides
Comb regularly as part of routine hygiene
Discourage the use of environmental sprays and lindane-containing products
Stress the importance of removing lice and all nits from children's hair
To help staff and parents, the NPA is selling a new, reusable comb device
called the LiceMeister™. This tool is a big improvement over the formerly
recommended popsicle stick method to screen for nits. Also, parents will find
the LiceMeister™ helps a lot with making children nit-free. Many of the
chemicals used to kill lice and nits are no longer fully effective. Those clever
bugs are becoming resistant to all types of pediculicides. Avoid repeated use of
these poisons on children by combing out all lice and nits the first time the
child receives treatment. Keep combing to get out any resistant lice,
late-hatching nits, or reinfesting insects. To make the job easier, recommend
short hair cuts.
