Why doesn Arlington County have a no-nit policy for head lice?
Experts such as The Centers for Disease Control, Harvard School of Public Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Virginia Department of Health recommend AGAINST no-nit policies for the following reasons: • No nit policies do not prevent the spread of head lice. Nits that are easily seen are empty casings and do not contain live lice. Eggs containing live lice are very close to the scalp and can rarely be seen. They are destroyed by the first or second treatment for lice, depending on the treatment used. • No nit policies unnecessarily cause students to miss school. If you discover head lice, it is important to let the nurse in the school know so that she can check other children’s heads and alert other parents to check their children for lice. Your child’s identity will be kept confidential. For more information on head lice, including the School Health Procedure, click on the link below. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/lice/factsht_head_lice_treating.
