What are lice?
Lice are tiny parasites. They infect the human head and neck, and survive by sucking blood from the scalp. Lice spread by close person-to-person contact. They can crawl, but do not jump or fly. Itchy scalp is the most common symptom.
Head lice do not cause other diseases, however they can be very embarrassing. Many people associate them with poor personal hygiene or dirty living conditions. These stereotypes are not true. Lice are common, and anyone who has head-to-head contact with an infected person can get them.
What should schools do if a student has head lice?
Read our Lice in Schools article to learn about the updated recommendations.