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In a letter addressed to school and kindergarten principals, the Ombudsman for Children drew attention to the recurring problem of head lice in units of the education system. In his opinion, it is necessary to undertake preventive measures in this area and to develop – with the participation of parents – appropriate procedures.
- Lice returns systematically at the beginning of the school year, in late autumn and at the beginning of winter
- An information card on the door of a kindergarten or school with a request to check the children’s heads causes many negative reactions among parents
- It happens that parents, when lice are detected in their own child, do not inform the kindergarten or school about it, because they consider it an embarrassing problem
Marek Michalak wrote that his office continues to receive information about the problem of head lice in units of the education system. He pointed out that an information card hung on the door of a kindergarten or school, asking them to check the children’s heads, causes many negative reactions among parents; they often demand that the “perpetrator” of the problem be immediately discovered, left at home and the petition referred to the family court, while refusing to allow their child’s head to be checked for cleanliness.
Lice – an uncomfortable and embarrassing problem
He noted that there are also situations where parents, when they detect lice in their own child, do not inform the kindergarten or school about it, because they consider it an embarrassing problem. «Meanwhile, silence in such circumstances is the worst possible choice. It delays the proper reaction of employees of educational institutions and other parents and exposes other children to the infection »- noted the spokesman.
According to Michalak, the availability of knowledge in the field of head lice and preparations to counteract the phenomenon are conditions which – in his opinion – should quickly eliminate the risk. “However, this is not often the case – the complainants indicate examples of families who downplay the situation and do not treat all household members or delay in purchasing and applying the agents, which significantly prolongs the elimination of lice and favors its spread” – writes Michalak.
He also emphasized that children are entrusted to the care of school and kindergarten employees, including directors of institutions, who are to ensure their safe and hygienic conditions of stay. As he emphasized, the effectiveness of all activities in this area is related to the systematic and coordinated implementation of preventive measures, which will be effective if parents trust the nurse or school hygienist, teachers, and cooperation with them will be correct. “Only then will lice – if it occurs at all – be eliminated in the shortest possible time” – emphasized the spokesman.
According to Michalak, it is also important that preventive measures in schools are implemented as planned, and the procedure in such situations is determined at the beginning of the school year.
Michalak recalled that the consent of the parents to take care of the child is tantamount to consent to the inspection of the cleanliness of the child’s scalp in justified cases. If an inspection is planned, parents should be notified of its date and, after the inspection, of the result. He also emphasized that the nurse or school hygienist was responsible for contacting the child’s parents, informing them about the case, possibly instructing them on how to act and monitoring the situation.
He added that in the absence of improvement in the cleanliness of the child’s scalp, the school authorities may consider contacting the appropriate social welfare unit if there is a suspicion of child neglect.
Lice returns systematically at the beginning of the school year, in late autumn and at the beginning of winter
Michalak also pointed out that the topic of head lice returns systematically at the beginning of the school year, when children return from summer camps and camps, and then in late autumn and early winter, when they start wearing hats. «It is worth checking their heads more often during these periods. Teach care for hygiene, make people sensitive to not borrowing hair care accessories (brushes, combs), hair ornaments, hats or towels »- he emphasized.
Michalak asked the heads of schools and kindergartens to take action in the field of head lice to use not only the available knowledge, but also to develop – with the participation of parents – specific procedures that would be accepted and respected by everyone. In substantive matters, they can turn to local sanitary supervision units in order to obtain support, including assistance in the implementation of preventive measures.
Head lice is an infectious disease that affects the scalp
Head lice is an infectious disease affecting the scalp (in adults it can also affect the pubic mound) caused by a louse that feeds on human blood. A louse is a small parasite, 2-3 mm in size. The female head lice lays eggs from which the larvae, called nits, hatch – they are white-brown in color, the size of a pinhead, they stick tightly to the scalp and hair.
Human infection from humans occurs through direct contact (louse cannot jump, only crawls) and is “most popular” among children and adolescents due to the behavior typical of this age (cuddling while playing, borrowing hairbrushes, resting in kindergartens) .
Contrary to general opinion, head lice is not a disease of dirt and poverty, although it is much more common in neglected environments. Due to the ease of infection in the child population, it can affect any child, and at the same time is a “shameful topic”. That is why it is so important to be aware of parents, school and kindergarten teachers and the children themselves how to avoid lice infestation and how to act when we find it. Parents should know that checking the hair of children, especially those attending kindergarten and school, or returning from school trips or summer camps, should be a habit. It is best to do it every few days, at least once a week. Common personal items such as towels, hairbrushes, combs, and hats should not be used at home. Avoiding direct contact of children’s heads is impossible in a school or kindergarten community, but children should be taught not to lend hats or scarves to other friends for “trying on”, especially if we know that there is lice in school or kindergarten.