HEAD LICE
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.
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Clinical report clarifies and updates protocols for diagnosis and treatment, and provides guidance for the management of children with head lice in the school setting
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Food and Drug Administration
- 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." |