Students with Lice Can Stay in School
By: Kelly James
Updated: March 8, 2013
AMARILLO -- New guidelines in Texas allow school children to go to class with head lice.
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services says individual school districts can adopt their own policies regarding attendance among kids with lice.
The Amarillo Independent School District has decided to allow children with lice to stay in school.
In the pas, the AISD would excuse absences of students with head lice for up to five days. But the district and even health professionals say it's not necessary.
The reason being, head lice isn't a medical condition.
The change in policy comes after the state health department said lice does not pose a health threat to children.
Three years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics said essentially the same thing.
School nurse Cindi Haliburton agrees with the new policy saying lice is simply not a problem in the district.
Haliburton says lice can be eliminated from a child's head with one treatment. But, recommends a follow-up treatment 7 to 10 days after the initial treatment.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also says there's no evidence that sending a child home for lice reduces the spread of lice.
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services says individual school districts can adopt their own policies regarding attendance among kids with lice.
The Amarillo Independent School District has decided to allow children with lice to stay in school.
In the pas, the AISD would excuse absences of students with head lice for up to five days. But the district and even health professionals say it's not necessary.
The reason being, head lice isn't a medical condition.
The change in policy comes after the state health department said lice does not pose a health threat to children.
Three years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics said essentially the same thing.
School nurse Cindi Haliburton agrees with the new policy saying lice is simply not a problem in the district.
Haliburton says lice can be eliminated from a child's head with one treatment. But, recommends a follow-up treatment 7 to 10 days after the initial treatment.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also says there's no evidence that sending a child home for lice reduces the spread of lice.
