The answer to this question is you probably don’t. So often, people find out that they have lice and keep it to themselves. They are embarrassed. They do not want others to know or better yet, they do not want other people to know that their children have contracted it. Why? Well, unfortunately, these little pesty critters have a bad rap and not because of the harm they can cause, because they do not, but because they are a nuisance and very hard to get rid of. However, if and when you do get lice, being honest and telling others that you have been in contact with, is one of the most important steps you can take in the treatment of lice. You need to end the cycle and that starts with letting people know so that they can check themselves and catch it before they infest others along the way.
The following is taken from the Montgomery County Public School’s website regarding their lice policy. It states:
“Head Lice
Students who have head lice will be sent home and may not return to school until the infestation has been treated successfully. To return to school, the student must be free of lice and nits (the small lice eggs on the hair strands close to the scalp). Parents should accompany their children upon their return to school for a post-treatment inspection in the health room.”
How many of you think that all of this holds true? Do you think that everyone is treated successfully? Do you think that everyone actually reports back to the the health room for a post inspection? Do you think that everyone who finds out that they have lice after school hours actually calls the school to let the school know?
This being said, your child could be sitting to next to someone every day with lice and they would never know it. And better yet, a note is not sent home to parents and families until 3 children in the class contract lice. By that time, an entire class has been exposed to lice and by the time the letter is sent home, there is a very good chance that your child has brought “friends home in their hair” too.
It has always been said that honesty is the best policy and this holds true for lice. If you get lice, tell people. Don’t be ashamed. It is so much better to let those you or your children have played with know so that they can be on alert for the symptoms and signs and catch it early. Let your schools know so it can be documented so that those letters can go out. The more documented cases that are made, the more letters can go out, and the more people can be treated. The more people are made aware and the more we do to end the cycle, the shorter the cycle will be.
We all do not want lice to ruin our lives and if we all work together, we can make a greater attempt at doing just this.
Best,
Lauren Salzberg
Potomac Lice Lady
lauren@potomaclicelady.com
240-390-NITS(6487)
