Head Lice
Head lice is a common infestation in school age children with 6-12 million affected annually in the United States. Head lice do not transmit disease, but they do spread easily. The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed. The female louse lays about 10 eggs, or nits, per day. The nits are firmly attached to the hair shaft and hatch within 10-14 days. Head lice move by crawling, they do not jump or fly, so they most commonly are spread by direct head-to-head contact.
Our protocol at Barnard School is NOT to exclude students with a diagnosis of Head Lice. According to many organizations such as the CDC, NH DOE, the National Association of School Nurses and the American Academy of Pediatrics exclusion policies do not decrease the spread of lice.
Head Lice information from New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
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