The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines on Monday saying that children with lice infestation should not be banned from going to school. The doctors reasoned that the "no-nit" policies are discriminating because these kids can undergo treatment without missing school.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), head lice infestation is commonly spread through close person-to-person contact. In the United States, head lice infestation is most common among school children age 3 to 11. The center estimated that about 6 to 12 million infestations occur in the country per year and it is more common among girls. Current treatments include over-the-counter and prescription medicines
The AAP recommends that instead of being absent from school, children can finish the school day then be treated by their parents when they return home. Should the self-medication and nit removal fail to eliminate the parasites, the parents can go to the doctor for a prescription.
"Many of our unwanted scalp visitors simply won't be killed by this long trusted and safe treatment," Dr. Dassi Leader , director of inpatient pediatrics at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City, told HealthDay News. "Permethrin still may be a good place to start - it's safe, cheap and over-the-counter. But if the lice are still happily crawling, your pediatrician has other options the lice may not be expecting."
Another way to prevent further spread of the head lice is to have the household members checked, wash the pillow cases and hair brushes, and remind the children not to share their personal items with their schoolmates.
The new guidelines can be read in the April 27 issue of Pediatrics.
