Lice in the classroom cause parental anxiety

Each message stating "there are lice in the class" increases anxiety among parents. As a pediatrician and mother, Emily J. C. Wong presents a method to treat lice without humiliating children.

Lice are common but not a sign of poor hygiene

Reading the message "My child has lice" on the class WhatsApp group is often enough to cause panic among parents. Head lice, or Pediculus humanus capitis, primarily infest children in daycare or primary school. Having lice does not mean the child is dirty, and the infestation does not transmit any other disease, but the shame, comments, and sometimes school exclusion are real.

Experts advise against stigma and school exclusion

For pediatrician Emily J. C. Wong, also a mother of two children, "having lice does not indicate poor hygiene, despite a persistent misconception maintained by stigmatization, and lice do not transmit other diseases," she explains in the media The Conversation. Her advice aligns with that of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Health Insurance, and the Government of Quebec: treat without blaming and keep the child at school.

Treating lice requires careful identification

Treating head lice: a clear protocol at home. First reflex: check, not treat "just in case." Emily J. C. Wong reminds that adult lice measure 2 to 3 millimeters, gray-brown in color, and the nits attached near the scalp close in 8 to 9 days. The itching often appears 4 to 6 weeks after the infestation. Therefore, one looks for live lice, especially behind the ears and at the nape of the neck, using a fine comb on wet hair.

Effective treatments require proper application

When lice are present, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises treating all infested people and those who share the child's bed. The lotions at 1% permethrin, shampoos based on pyrethrin plus pyrethrins butoxyde of piperonyl or 0.5% ivermectin lotion, approved by American authorities, remain effective if a second application is done around day +9 or +10.