Lice Creep Up on Area Students

 On Tuesday afternoon, Principal Willicia Hobbs sent an electronic newsletter to parents and community members regarding the discovery of a few lice on students.

In the newsletter, Hobbs asked parents to check their children for any signs of lice or nits (lice eggs). Although lice aren’t dangerous, they can be contagious and cause irritation.

Florissant Patch is here to help understand lice and the problem.  

We’ve gathered information regarding how parents can detect lice and treat it. So, courtesy of Kids Health, here are some tips on finding and treating lice:

What are lice?

A head louse or lice is a tiny parasite that lives in human hair and feeds on the scalp’s blood. According to Kids Health, the louse is no bigger than a sesame seed and are tan or grayish-white. The eggs, or nits, appear as tiny dots along the hair. Lice are most common among children three years to 12 years old.

What are the signs that my child could have lice? 

Lice can cause irritation and mild soreness. Usually, lice bits cause itching and scratching, but in some cases it might takes a few weeks before this starts. Another possibility is a rash has formed from the excessive scratching of the scalp. At any rate, if you notice children scratching more often or saying that they feel things moving on their heads, then it could be a sign of lice.

Are lice contagious?

Lice are highly contagious and spread from person to person.  They can be spread through head-to-head contact or sharing of clothes, bed linens, hats, combs or brushes.

How do you treat lice?

A doctor can recommend medicated shampoos or lotions to treat the scalp and kill the lice. Care should be taken with these products, however, as there are often insecticides.

The takes precautions for its students with head lice. The district’s policy states that students must return to school accompanied by parents after treatment and will be checked by the school nurse within six to 10 days of being readmitted. The district also maintains records of students with a record of lice or eggs.