I'm the brother of June Langas, who was interviewed for the article.
I'm sympathetic to those like Amy Asher who observe that, "If everyone with some issue was kept home, there would be no school."
But schools should at least provide parents with a heads up that children have been confirmed carriers in their schools, so that parents could be more vigilent in taking necessary precautions (if not infected) or following appropriate protocols (if infestation is discovered) to minimize further transmission. This is a reasonable way to respond to an outbreak, given the rapidity with which the lice infestation spread at the elementary school, the severe, months-long impact it had on my neices' daily routines, and difficulty afflicted children face in trying to focus on their studies.
My sister's primary care physician and dermatologist both initially misdiagosed the problem. A teacher at the school in question had to shave her head and dispose of many of her belongings. To say that it's merely a nuisance understates the way lice can turn your life upside down. Let's force the schools to be a more transparent about any threats that might be lurking in the classroom
Theresa - 12 years ago
Being a parent at Coronado Elementary it would of been nice to have been notified of the Lice outbreak. Even though my daughter is not in the same grade I believe that it should of been communicated throughout the school so we could be on the look out and prepared.
Amy Asher - 12 years ago
I am a school nurse, a mother of 3 with 2 school aged kids and I got lice every year when I was a child. Trust me I know! I follow scientific evidence provided by the CDC. Most people don't follow the directions on the box which clearly states to do a second wash 1 week later and to pick all nits out of the hair. Most parents don't do either one. Pink eye is even being allowed at school these days as many cases are viral. Kids are allowed at school with colds, bed bugs, and other issues. If everyone with some issue was kept home, there would be no school.
James - 12 years ago
No!! That would be like saying!! I got PINK-Eye!!!
Let me go back to school & spread it to everybody!!
Have the students homework sent home-till they get a clear bill of health from the doctor!!! It's plain common sense!!!!
Danielle Huerta - 12 years ago
For anyone who thinks that children should be allowed to remain in school with eggs or nits in their hair is either 1) Not a parent of a school age child OR Have never had lice or had to get rid of them. Having to deal with them for months & spend money on treatments that don't work, only to end up with a prescription that's really not safe for children and to top it all off having to get rid of furniture, toys & clothing and having to hire a exterminator, all in order to get rid of them is more than ridiculous. I'd say they're much more than a nuisance. Needless to say the itching they cause drives you insane, to the point you could literally claw yourself. Which could all be prevented if kids with nits or eggs are not allowed in school. Its easy to say you're against or for something if you've never experienced it. The schools do offer home school programs for kids that will or are out for extended periods of time. Oh & Amy, the Dr also said that its a big risk to keep kids with nits or eggs in school that, that's how super lice exist. He also said he was surprised that schools would allow children with nits or eggs to stay in school. So don't quote half of what someone says. Do your research.
Bonnie - 12 years ago
The 2011-2012 school year, my oldest child didn't get them (thankfully!) but during the 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 school years, in two jeffco public schools, she did. In a year span (spring 2010-spring 2011) I had to treat her 8 times, the last treatment was from the doctor and finally worked for good, I was skeptical since she was 5 & 6 with during the outbreaks but was ready to be rid of the parasites. We don't go many places and the only place she could have gotten it was from her school(s) and not a single time, during all of the treatments, did I see any letters come from the school district (not even generic ones). Getting rid of them was a pain and I ended up just packing up bedding and toys and had my kids room bare until we were able to get rid of it all. I even had a pest control person come look and spray so I know they didn't just stay in our home, it came from the schools. I was highly upset with how they handled it all since no parents were informed. Obviously there was an outbreak since 5 of those times were in 2011 at the end of the school year, but not once was there any information provided. It would have been nice to have at least a heads up that it was making the rounds in her classroom but not a word was spread. I just hope that this year she doesn't get them since she was able to go last year without the critters!
Tammie - 12 years ago
As a teacher, hearing the doctor in the interview state that it takes 9 or so days for an egg to hatch, I believe that is far too long for a child to miss school. While they are just eggs, they are not spreading. The district policy was stated to be that if live lice is found, the child goes home. Keeping a child from school for two weeks or more (four months, in the case of the family featured) because of the eggs will interfere greatly with the child's education.
Amy Asher - 12 years ago
Lice is actually very hard to spread. They crawl and hats or brushes need to be shared or other forms of close contact in order to transfer the parasite. They do not carry disease therefore they are not as threatening as other parasites. Eggs do not spread lice. Allowing students with lice eggs at school is supported by the CDC. They are a nuisance but that is all. They are not life threatening or disease carrying. There are also confidentially issues within a school district. It's a higher likelihood kids get lice from their friend or cousin then from school. Do your research.
I'm the brother of June Langas, who was interviewed for the article.
I'm sympathetic to those like Amy Asher who observe that, "If everyone with some issue was kept home, there would be no school."
But schools should at least provide parents with a heads up that children have been confirmed carriers in their schools, so that parents could be more vigilent in taking necessary precautions (if not infected) or following appropriate protocols (if infestation is discovered) to minimize further transmission. This is a reasonable way to respond to an outbreak, given the rapidity with which the lice infestation spread at the elementary school, the severe, months-long impact it had on my neices' daily routines, and difficulty afflicted children face in trying to focus on their studies.
My sister's primary care physician and dermatologist both initially misdiagosed the problem. A teacher at the school in question had to shave her head and dispose of many of her belongings. To say that it's merely a nuisance understates the way lice can turn your life upside down. Let's force the schools to be a more transparent about any threats that might be lurking in the classroom
Being a parent at Coronado Elementary it would of been nice to have been notified of the Lice outbreak. Even though my daughter is not in the same grade I believe that it should of been communicated throughout the school so we could be on the look out and prepared.
I am a school nurse, a mother of 3 with 2 school aged kids and I got lice every year when I was a child. Trust me I know! I follow scientific evidence provided by the CDC. Most people don't follow the directions on the box which clearly states to do a second wash 1 week later and to pick all nits out of the hair. Most parents don't do either one. Pink eye is even being allowed at school these days as many cases are viral. Kids are allowed at school with colds, bed bugs, and other issues. If everyone with some issue was kept home, there would be no school.
No!! That would be like saying!! I got PINK-Eye!!!
Let me go back to school & spread it to everybody!!
Have the students homework sent home-till they get a clear bill of health from the doctor!!! It's plain common sense!!!!
For anyone who thinks that children should be allowed to remain in school with eggs or nits in their hair is either 1) Not a parent of a school age child OR Have never had lice or had to get rid of them. Having to deal with them for months & spend money on treatments that don't work, only to end up with a prescription that's really not safe for children and to top it all off having to get rid of furniture, toys & clothing and having to hire a exterminator, all in order to get rid of them is more than ridiculous. I'd say they're much more than a nuisance. Needless to say the itching they cause drives you insane, to the point you could literally claw yourself. Which could all be prevented if kids with nits or eggs are not allowed in school. Its easy to say you're against or for something if you've never experienced it. The schools do offer home school programs for kids that will or are out for extended periods of time. Oh & Amy, the Dr also said that its a big risk to keep kids with nits or eggs in school that, that's how super lice exist. He also said he was surprised that schools would allow children with nits or eggs to stay in school. So don't quote half of what someone says. Do your research.
The 2011-2012 school year, my oldest child didn't get them (thankfully!) but during the 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 school years, in two jeffco public schools, she did. In a year span (spring 2010-spring 2011) I had to treat her 8 times, the last treatment was from the doctor and finally worked for good, I was skeptical since she was 5 & 6 with during the outbreaks but was ready to be rid of the parasites. We don't go many places and the only place she could have gotten it was from her school(s) and not a single time, during all of the treatments, did I see any letters come from the school district (not even generic ones). Getting rid of them was a pain and I ended up just packing up bedding and toys and had my kids room bare until we were able to get rid of it all. I even had a pest control person come look and spray so I know they didn't just stay in our home, it came from the schools. I was highly upset with how they handled it all since no parents were informed. Obviously there was an outbreak since 5 of those times were in 2011 at the end of the school year, but not once was there any information provided. It would have been nice to have at least a heads up that it was making the rounds in her classroom but not a word was spread. I just hope that this year she doesn't get them since she was able to go last year without the critters!
As a teacher, hearing the doctor in the interview state that it takes 9 or so days for an egg to hatch, I believe that is far too long for a child to miss school. While they are just eggs, they are not spreading. The district policy was stated to be that if live lice is found, the child goes home. Keeping a child from school for two weeks or more (four months, in the case of the family featured) because of the eggs will interfere greatly with the child's education.
Lice is actually very hard to spread. They crawl and hats or brushes need to be shared or other forms of close contact in order to transfer the parasite. They do not carry disease therefore they are not as threatening as other parasites. Eggs do not spread lice. Allowing students with lice eggs at school is supported by the CDC. They are a nuisance but that is all. They are not life threatening or disease carrying. There are also confidentially issues within a school district. It's a higher likelihood kids get lice from their friend or cousin then from school. Do your research.