• Tiny Brownish colored insects that live off the scalp  

• Do not transmit disease, they are a public health nuisance  

• Has nothing to do with cleanliness or hygiene

• Prolonged direct head to head contact – they do not jump or fly

• Sharing personal items – hats, combs/hair accessories, sports/helmets, jacket hoods, bedding, play clothes, Sleepovers #1, camps

NASN, AAP, CDC, MDH  – DO NOT recommend a no-nit policy, do not recommend exclusion from valuable academic time – as once a child is diagnosed he/she most often has it for 10 days to a month. Mass head checks are not proven effective. 

The health office will inform the parent/guardian if we identify headlice in your child while at school.  We encourage a consult with your primary care provider or a pharmacist for the most recommended treatment for your child.  It is important to protect the privacy of our families.  Based on the number of cases in a school or class - we may provide notification to a classroom, the school building or district wide.  It is important to note that there are often cases of headlice in individuals year round.  Prevention on educating your child on how head lice is transmitted is very important to do throughout the school year.  

• Check at home all year long, avoid sharing of clothing, avoid head to head contact –talk to your children

• Head Lice: What Parents Need to Know

• Hennepin County Head Lice Parent Fact Sheet

• Head Lice Fact Sheet

• American Academy of Pediatrics Updates Report on Controlling and Treating Head Lice in Children, Ado