As we return to school from a holiday period it is not unusual for us to see a few cases of head lice in our community.  Head lice are very common so there is no need to be alarmed, however they should be treated quickly to prevent them from spreading. 

We are asking that all parents examine their child’s hair and look for:

• persistent scratching, particularly behind the ears and the nape of the neck accompanied by a red rash;
• tiny silver white eggs at the base of the hair shaft;
• small pale brown lice.  You may need a magnifying glass and a fine tooth comb under strong light.

If you find head lice please treat immediately and remove ALL eggs as they tend to hatch even when treated.  Comb hair through with conditioner to remove eggs more easily.  Some cases have become immune to chemical treatments – you may wish to try smothering the hair in conditioner, covering it with a shower cap and leaving it on for ½ hour before removing the eggs with your fingernails.  Some parents have had success with this method.  Re-treat in this manner every 2 or 3 days. You will also need to wash bed linen, combs, hats and anything else that may harbour head lice.

Please visit this NSW Government Health site for full information on Head Lice and the treatment of them: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/headlice/Pages/treatment.aspx 

We thank you for your assistance in helping to reduce the spread of head lice throughout the school community.