Health Centre News  

Head Lice 

The Department of Human Services indicates that at any one time there are likely to be cases of head lice in most schools, so we must all be aware that we need to be maintaining responsibility to minimise outbreaks. Responsibility for managing head lice is shared between parents/guardians, schools and principals. It's always better to be looking out for them so you can treat early and prevent spread to others. 

Parents/guardians have primary responsibility for detection and treatment of headlice.

Parents / guardians should:

• Regularly, preferably once a week, check for lice or eggs in the hair of their child and all household members
• Notify the school nurse:
  • If their child is affected
  • When treatment commenced
• Not send their children to school with untreated head lice

Schools must:

• Advise parents / guardians when there has been an incidence of lice in their class
• Maintain student confidentiality to avoid stigmatisation
• Support and provide practical treatment advice to parents / guardians
• Use discretion about informing the school community about an infestation

When checking your child for lice it is important to:

• Have good lighting and a magnifying glass if possible (eggs and nits are very tiny)

• Use conditioner and a lice comb to comb through small sections at a time. Scrape the conditioner against a tissue to see if eggs or lice are seen.

• Treat your child as soon as lice are found                             
• Check all family members

If you would like any further information regarding head lice, please visit:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/head-lice-nits 

Kind regards, 

Nurse Cecile