NPA Press Release 04/13/2004

 
The National Pediculosis Association Says
"Keep Your Wits Not Your Nits"™

Rather than acknowledge the overwhelming percentage of schools supporting no nit policies, the National Association of School Nurses is encouraging its members to remove no nit policies and is reasserting its opposition to them at a session on head lice at their national conference in July 2004.

(PRWEB) April 13, 2004 -- According to the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), "Over 90% of schools in the U.S. have adopted no nit policies despite NASN’s and the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation that this may not be necessary."

A no nit policy is an administrative standard to assure children are in the classroom lice and nit free.

Those who support a no nit policy see it as a pro-active approach to protect children from unnecessary exposure to head lice and potentially harmful head lice treatments.

The National Pediculosis Association's (NPA) No Nit Policy provides education in advance of outbreaks, promotes routine screening and early detection and enables families to send their children to school lice and nit free avoiding any need for dismissal.

The NPA has supported the no nit philosophy since the agency was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1983. The NPA's No Nit Policy is available here.

Those who object say that dismissal for head lice is unwarranted and that no nit policies interfere with education. In other words, they believe children should be allowed to remain in school with lice and nits -- a position unacceptable to today's parents and many school nurses.

The NASN and the American Academy of Pediatrics' position against no nit policies evolved from the "Guidelines for the treatment of resistant pediculosis" printed as a paid-to-publish supplement in the August 2000 issue of Contemporary Pediatrics.

(See one school nurse's reaction to the Guidelines)

Parents who are not informed predictably turn to prescription pesticides or to over the counter products to which the lice have been proven resistant. The NPA says it is this reliance on pesticides that needlessly risks children's health, keeps them infested and missing school.

Rather than acknowledge the overwhelming percentage of schools supporting no nit policies, the National Association of School Nurses is reasserting its opposition by offering a session at their national conference in July 2004 with “… focus on the role of the school nurse in advocating for appropriate treatment and removal of no nit policies in school districts.” The session is sponsored by the pharmaceutical company that sells the pesticide Malathion in a lotion marketed as a treatment for children with head lice.

Head lice are a community problem that require community cooperation. The NPA says its No Nit Policy is consistent with all that is known about controlling communicable diseases and the importance of taking every available opportunity to protect children from unnecessary exposure to pesticides.

Head lice are endemic in America and a part of raising children today. The National Pediculosis Association encourages parents and school nurses to visit HeadLice.Org where they will find helpful resources and free downloads to share with others in their community.

Simply stated, NPA says, "Keep Your Wits Not Your Nits!"™

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