Keeping A Head Lice Outbreak Under Control

If you're looking after children, one case of head lice can quickly explode into an epidemic of head-scratching. It's a fact that lice can spread quickly throughout a group of people, and it can be tough to get rid of them in some cases. In this article, we'll attempt to give you some advice for when you have to deal with an outbreak of head lice cases.

It's important to have some standards when it comes to your head lice outbreak policies. Be sure that everyone that works with you in your child care center is aware of how to effectively identify the presence of lice on children's heads. They should be well informed about what head lice are and how they can and can't spread so that you can field any questions that parents or the children might have. You may want to consider distributing literature to your children's parents as a preventative measure before a head lice outbreak occurs.

When an outbreak does occur, it's important to take action immediately. You should notify the parents of all of the children so that they can be on the lookout for an infestation. Also, you should caution the children's parents regarding the use of pesticides to remove the lice. In most cases, you should give children lice-removing shampoo as opposed to more powerful chemical agents such as Nix so that the children aren't damaged by the harsh chemicals. Parents should be especially cautioned against using any treatments that contain the chemical known as Lindane, as it has been attributed to several side-effects including death when used on children.

If you've diagnosed a child with head lice, be sure to contact his or her parents for an immediate pick-up. You should screen the other children in the class for the presence of lice as well, and be sure to tell them to speak up if they feel they have an itchy scalp at any point. Children should also be cautioned about sharing personal items such as hats in order to ensure that they are not transmitting the lice to others. If multiple children are afflicted with the lice, you should review your policies to ensure that your hygiene standards are up to par when it comes to preventing future outbreaks. Dealing with head lice outbreaks can be unfortunate but it is important to handle them as best you can in order to minimize the stress and worry that they can cause.