Rank: Forum user 
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Hello all,
I have been asked for advice regarding a schools duties regarding headlice.
I am aware of the contentious issue of 'Human Rights' etc however, the child in question is continuously exposed to other children with headlice as well as having an underlying eczema condition her health and well being is affected.
Any advice or just your point view would be appreciated in forming a letter to the school.
Thank you in anticipation.
Regards,
Gordon.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Speak to a doctor and follow his advise. The headlice can be treated and the school has a duty to ask the parents of any child infected to have the problem treated. There are many products available to treat headlice. As far as the ecxema is concerned the doctor will advise you if that is a problem affected by headlice or treating them. This is not really a H&S issue but follow up any advice given by the doctor with tact and be general in any commen ts to the scholl, and show concern for the pupil you are responding for but don't make any accusations.
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Rank: Forum user
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Although headlice is considered an infectious disease the health implications are virtually zero. The problems caused by headlice are society's reaction and not the infection. I would suggest it is a social issue and not a public health issue. Most lice are caught in the family/community and not schools. Anyway, more info at the Health protection Agency: http://www.hpa.org.uk/To...eralInformationHeadLice/
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Rank: Super forum user
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As an OS&H adviser to a local authority’s schools I get asked from time to time about head lice and other medical matters. My response is always to direct the schools to medical sources of advice and support - sources about which they ought to know already. Local authorities usually provide their schools with a local manual of advice about pupil medical conditions. Schools also tend to have a designated local NHS (community health) nurse who liaises with them on a regular basis. Head lice are relatively common among primary age children, so advice should be readily available about the various treatments for such infestations.
Phillip commented above that the main problem with head lice is a social one rather than a medical one. Sadly there seems to be a common misperception that having head lice indicates notable lack of attention to personal hygiene, when in fact anyone (whether with clean hair & skin or not) can acquire such ‘passengers’ simply through direct hair to hair contact with someone who already has them.
Also, just in case anyone wants a new expression to sprinkle in their conversations, try Pediculosis capitis which is the medical term for head lice !
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Gordon, If I was writing the letter I would ask for a meeting with the Head Teacher. I would put in that I understand that this situation can be a common occurrence and that it is very difficult for it to be completely eradicated. I would outline the particular problem my child may have with any treatemnts for headlice due to their ezcema. Finish with appreciate giving up some of their time to meet and discuss.
Aside from your question and the parents of the child may already know this or can't use this either but leave in conditioner can prevent headlice attaching to hair and also use of green tree (or is it tea?) shampoo can also help prevent attachment. Obviously the childs skin condition may mean that they can;t use either but worth consideration.
Chemists shops may have other shampoos etc whcih do the same but aren't too strong for soemone with ezcema.
Lilian
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Rank: Super forum user 
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RackMan wrote:
I have been asked for advice regarding a schools duties regarding headlice.
Hi Gordon, the schools duties in regard to headlice will really stop at informing parents that there is or may be an outbreak at school and for parents to monitor. Head lice don't reside in school but in pupils hair, as such is not really a workplace h&s type of issue, much the same as common cold and flu.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Must be me, anybody else remember the nit nurse when at school, big purple patch's on head, oh the joys of youth.
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Rank: Forum user
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Ken Slack wrote:Hi Gordon, the schools duties in regard to headlice will really stop at informing parents that there is or may be an outbreak at school and for parents to monitor. No, schools are advised that they should not send out letters to parents: "Letters notifying other parents of cases have not been found to curtail spread but often provoke itching and anxiety as a psychological response." http://www.hpa.org.uk/To...eralInformationHeadLice/and: 1.30. “Alert letters” One of the principal causes of unnecessary public alarm is the “alert letter” sent out by head teachers, typically warning parents that “we have head lice in the school”. This is an illogical and unnecessary reaction: Most schools will always have some pupils with head lice at any one time. An “alert letter” could be sent out every day of the school year. It often converts the usual background level of infection in the school into a pseudo-outbreak in which the parents’ perception is that the school is riddled with lice. Many parents become convinced they and their children have head lice when they in fact do not (psychogenic itch), or decide to use chemical lotions as inappropriate prophylaxis “just in case”. http://www.phmeg.org.uk/...LiceStaffordRpt_2008.pdf
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Rank: Forum user
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stevel wrote:Must be me, anybody else remember the nit nurse when at school, big purple patch's on head, oh the joys of youth.
yep i do indeed
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Rank: New forum user
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Bring back the Nit Nurse
costs a fortune in lotions potions and nit combs. Kids go back to school after every holiday totally nit free. and come back after one day a scholl full of the devils
on a practicle note try the NITTY GRITTY comb available on line or at a major supermarket beginning with TE***. (no I dont have any vested interest it really does work if used on a regualr basis)
Clears runners out every time.
As for kids get nits from Home not school maybe in some case but we do our kids hair three times a week and dont get eggs out out runners so I think I know where they are coming from. You can see the runners in the hair of other kids waiting outside school. Teachers are so fed up of having nits in their own hair they have now started sending kids home. About time too
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Rank: Super forum user
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Headlice is a societal problem due to over crowded and over heated schools / work place etc. I believe it is a growing problem in crowded city offices too. It's not linked to poor hygiene. I don't see it as a health related problem. It's just inconvenient. We've all been through it but no need to go OTT or scaremongering IMO. It's not the schools fault.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Its very strange the way topics deviate from the priginal question asked, perhaps it shows that there is quite a worrying lack of knowledge or experience, who knows. The original question was more about how headlice could affect a person suffering from excema and here we go talking about the management of headlice. The excema problem can only be answered by a doctor as I pointed out. I have many friends who suffer with it and they go to their doctor and get a cream to treat it, the doctor can advise on the problem of how headlice could affect it, so again at the risk of repetition speak to your doctor.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi I work for a local authority and provide advice and guidance to schools and parents on issues such as headlice. As people have already said it is very much a societal complaint we follow guidance from the HPA on treatment advice etc as well as the school nursing service. We advise that Schools do not send out letters but appreciate that some schools have such an issue with headlice that the final decision is up to the Headteacher.
Children should not be sent home from school unless a number of live lice have been seen, children should not be excluded from school. Schools are not permitted to actively look on a childs head for lice. Parents are advised to use an over the counter treatment or seek advice from their doctor or use a conditioner and comb designed for headlice treatment. Anyone scratching yet??
Rarely there are cases where we have worked with the school nursing service and the Headteacher and parent support adviser in the schools because of potential neglect of the childs basic care needs.
Unfortunately this is a very common social issue that we get numerous complaints from parents about and schools have very little control over.
As a mother myself of 2 long haired girls I have to make sure their hair is tied back all the time whilst at school and stress not to put their heads together with anyone as much as possible a bit harsh but touch wood the youngest has only had them once!
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