Head Lice Prevalent in Door County Schools

It’s not unusual for Door County schools to have reported cases of head lice, but Nancy Stults, a nurse with the Door County Public Health Department, says this year’s been a busy one for the tiny bugs.

“There’s years when there are lots of cases and years when there aren’t very many,” she says. “It seems like we’ve had more calls with questions and concerns this year.”

Stults says she’s gotten calls regarding head lice from most of the schools in the area, and she’s working with teachers, kids, and parents to try and minimize the spread of the annoying insects that take up residence in people’s hair.

“When people call we tell them it’s a nuisance issue, not a disease issue,” she says. “It’s not because of uncleanliness. It’s because of kids putting their heads together and sharing hats and combs and those sorts of things.”

The major symptom of head lice is an intense itchy feeling that’s usually present at the back of a person’s head. Stults says anyone, even older students and adults, can get head lice, but it’s more prevalent in younger children because they’re more likely to rub their heads together or share play clothes.

The most important thing a parent can do for a child who has head lice, says Stults, is to find a treatment option, such as a lice-killing shampoo or head cream, and read its directions carefully.

“Whatever product they pick up, they have to follow the directions because each product is different,” she says.

After treatment, parents should check their children for nits, or lice eggs, for the next two weeks and re-treat only if and when their treatment product tells them to. Stults says she’d also encourage parents to wash their child’s bedding and clothing, as well as vacuum their house.

“They don’t live long off the head,” she says, “but they can live for up to 24 or 48 hours.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatricians, head lice is not a cause for restricting school attendance, and there are steps that schools can take to try and prevent the spread.

At Gibraltar Schools, Superintendent Tina Van Meer sent out a letter explaining that her custodial staff and teachers are vacuuming more, sealing up items that head lice might cling to, and making sure students don’t share items that could spread head lice. The letter also encouraged parents to contact the school or the Public Health Department if they have any questions regarding head lice.

Stults says she’s more than happy to field any questions parents may have.

“We welcome parents to call us, and we can brainstorm ideas that can help them if there’s a recurring issue,” she says.