Charlotte North Carolina Schools Retain "No Nit" Policy Despite Recommendations by Major Medical Organizations

Charlotte, NC, May 28, 2014 --(PR.com)-- LiceDoctors Head Lice Treatment and Nit Removal Service in the Charlotte, North Carolina area reports that despite a trend that is showing up across the U.S. of more lenient lice policies, schools send kids home with nits and/or bugs. These students are not to be admitted until treated and, in many cases, clear of lice.

Schools in Mecklinburg, Iredell, and Gaston counties send children with lice home. Catawba and Cabarrus counties both have strict "no nit" policies in place stating that these policies are in place to help prevent the spread of lice.

While several schools across the country are moving toward allowing children with nits to remain in school, Charlotte area schools have stood firm on this policy. The district has the support of the National Pediculosis Association (NPA) in Massachusetts, which is opposed to relaxing bans on lice and points to more lenient policies as a cause for spreading lice.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics updated guidelines in 2010 to adopt a "do not exclude" infested students recommendation for schools dealing with head lice. The National Association of School Nurses altered its policy to be in line with this more lenient stance in 2010. The school nurse association recommended that children found with live head lice should remain in class but be discouraged from close direct head contact with others. As a result of recommendations from these key medical associations, several schools across the nation have loosened their policies, now allowing students with nits, and even occasionally lice, to enter school. These organizations do not recommend that children with lice be sent home as they state that by the time a child is diagnosed, weeks have passed. In addition, they maintain that too many children were missing too much school for a situation that is a nuisance but not dangerous.

Not everyone in the Charlotte area is behind the current policy. One elementary school nurse states, "Too many children are missing school because of head lice, which is not a disease. I had one student who missed several days of schools because the parents could not get rid of the problem. Children should be in school so they can learn."

Wendy Beck, owner of LiceDoctors, explains that there are pros and cons to retaining "no nit" policies. "We understand the need for children to be in the classroom. In some cases, parents endeavor to get rid of the nits but they can't get them all out and their kids miss a lot of school. On the other hand, when parents spend money and time and succeed in killing lice and getting rid of nits, they do not want their kids re-infested from a child who still has an active case."

It is likely that this policy will be debated in Charlotte and across the country as parents and schools continue to battle the head lice dilemma.

LiceDoctors treats families in North Carolina in Charlotte and Raleigh and surrounding areas in the comfort of their homes. The company has successfully treated over 100,000 families, has a medical director on staff, and carries the BBB seal of approval. To contact LiceDoctors in Charlotte, call 980-236-9416 or go to www.licedoctors.com. In the Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham area, call 919-348-2760.