Help! My Child has Lice

If your child has lice, please read the School's policy and fact sheet on lice, LINK at left.

You will need to treat your child immediately. Also, please notify the school as a courtesy. This will alert the teachers and staff to make sure the rooms are vacuumed immediately.

  1. Use an effective head lice treatment. There are several shampoos available over-the-counter at your local drug store. If you are in the Point Loma area, the Point Loma Drug Store pharmacist is always on hand to make product recommendations. Follow the directions on the container. Other home‑type remedies such as Vaseline, mayonnaise, shower caps, etc. are not effective against head lice. Consult your pediatrician if your child has allergies. None of the commercially available products kills 100% of the nits 100% of the time.
  2. Removal of all nits is the most effective way to get rid of head lice. Use a fine‑tooth comb or "nit" comb to aid in nit removal (metal combs work better than plastic). The Nit Terminator is an efffective metal comb available through Amazon. Check especially at the nape of the neck, behind the ears and under bangs. It is not necessary to cut the child's hair to assist in nit removal.
  1. Carry out household precautions at the same time you treat the child.
  2. Wash clothes, bed linens and towels in hot water for at least 20 minutes.
  3. Items such as stuffed animals and hats that are not machine washable must be dry cleaned or stored at room temperature in a tightly sealed plastic bag for two weeks.
  4. Combs and brushes should be soaked for 20 minutes in a solution made of ammonia and hot water and then washed out afterwards with regular soap.
  5. Vacuum everywhere, all rugs, pillows, mattresses, and furniture, and don't forget the car! In most cases, household cleaning and vacuuming will remove nits and lice that may have fallen on rugs and furniture. Lice sprays may pose personal health and environmental hazards and are not recommended.

Even though the school policy is to allow children with nits in their hair to come back to school, please remember that just ONE nit that was not killed can cause a reinvestation. So, please use that nit comb and do your very best to comb them out.

If you are at your WITS end about NITS - there are services that will come to your house and advise you on how to eradice any remaining nits/lice. Please Google these services.

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