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Kids with Lice? Doctors Say They Can Still Attend School!
It turns out that when it comes to lice, the situation isn’t as dire as we once thought. Recent guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest that children diagnosed with lice don’t necessarily have to stay home from school. The main way lice spread is through direct head-to-head contact. So unless your child is engaged in some serious head-bumping, like those goofy Coneheads, there’s really no cause for alarm.
However, there are a few caveats. Kids often share hats, which can contribute to the spread of lice. Items like hair brushes, combs, and bedding also need attention when lice make an appearance, but thankfully, most of these items are not typically brought to school (let’s be honest, getting elementary school kids to use a hairbrush at home is a battle in itself!).
Now that I know my kids can remain social even if they get lice, I do have some not-so-great news: First, dealing with lice is still a huge hassle, and second, the new recommendations indicate that regular lice checks at school aren’t effective. This means it’s up to me (or my partner, Mark) to conduct lice checks at home. I was hoping we were done with those intimate hygiene battles once they could handle their own bathroom needs, but alas, I’ll be purchasing a nit-comb.
Yes, a nit-comb!
The AAP has also highlighted some common home remedies for lice that simply don’t work and could be potentially harmful. Some parents have resorted to wild solutions like mayonnaise, butter, and even WD-40 and vodka to eradicate those pesky bugs. But I’d advise against mixing vodka with lice treatment—unless you’re prepared for a very different kind of phone call about your child’s wellbeing!
On the bright side, this new perspective might help diminish the stigma surrounding lice, as people recognize that they aren’t as contagious as previously believed, that lice don’t transmit diseases, and that having lice doesn’t mean a child is unclean. However, we might want to keep the hat-swapping to a minimum.
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In summary, the new guidelines on lice suggest that children can continue attending school even if they have lice, as long as they aren’t in close head-to-head contact with others. Parents will still need to be proactive in checking for lice at home, but this could help reduce the stigma surrounding lice infestations.