Although head lice are not a medical problem, they may cause itching and
sometimes secondary bacterial infection.
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| Female head louse; illustration enlarged actual size 3mm (CDC Image Library) | Louse nit or egg attached to hair shaft; illustration enlarged - actual size <1 mm. (CDC Image Library) |
The following links will help you to control head lice in your home, school or community.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
New England Journal of Medicine
Harvard School of Public Health
South Dakota
| Neither the American Academy of Pediatrics nor the American Public Health Association recommends excluding children from school when they have head lice ("No Nit Policy"). The National Association of School Nurses states "that nit-free policies disrupt the education process and should not be viewed as an essential strategy in the management of head lice." The CDC, however, recommends temporarily excluding infested children from day care until 24 hours after treatment. |
