Waikato schools struggle with lice problem
WEDNESDAY, 13 JULY
2005
By KIMBERLEY ROTHWELL
Parents and staff at Waikato schools are struggling to contain head
lice infestations, and say the system for dealing with the problem
isn't working.
Storme Cowl-Waghorne's daughters Mackenzie, nine, and Graycie, 10,
have been continually re-infested with head lice since they started
at Frankton School 18 months ago.
"Every day this term they have come home with live adult head lice
infesting their previously treated hair and scalp," Ms Cowl-Waghorne
said.
She would like to see a return to having school nurses check
children's hair so that the infestations can be controlled.
"When I was a child, the health department nurse came regularly and
checked and treated every child at the school."
She has resorted to cutting her children's hair short and making
them wear hats to school.
She said constantly re-treating children's hair and scalp with lice
treatments meant exposing them to dangerous chemicals.
Frankton School principal Judy Dixon said the school did have a
system to deal with the problem: students who had head lice were
sent home until their hair was treated.
Mrs Dixon said that letters were also sent home to parents, letting
them know if head lice had been found in their class.
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