NEWTON, Mass. (PRWEB) September 22, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a striking reminder of the need for preparedness regarding public health issues. As children return to school and other group settings in this challenging environment, the National Pediculosis Association (NPA) wants to minimize pediculosis (head lice) as an additional burden by ensuring that parents have access to public health information that is current, accurate and trustworthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To this end, NPA reviewed the website guidance on head lice published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and identified a number of concerns. In June 2020, NPA submitted these concerns to CDC and requested that, as the US authority on communicable diseases, CDC reexamine its advice on pediculosis. NPA\u2019s concerns are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CDC responded that the agency \u201cregularly reviews and updates [its] web pages,\u201d would \u201cshare [NPA\u2019s] concerns with its subject matter experts,\u201d and would \u201cconsider [NPA\u2019s] suggestions when [it] next update[s] the pages.\u201d CDC further explained, \u201cCDC\u2019s head lice resources were last updated in summer 2019\u201d and \u201care scheduled to be reviewed (and updated, as necessary) as part of a routine three-year review cycle in summer 2022. We also review\/update pages on an ad hoc basis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While appreciating the demands of the current public health environment under COVID-19, NPA urges CDC to act promptly on reviewing and updating its information on head lice, rather than waiting for the agency\u2019s regular scheduled review. Because parents and school health professionals rely heavily on CDC\u2019s guidance, it is imperative that it be kept as current and accurate as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When a child has head lice, parents and others shouldn\u2019t have to wait for sound treatment advice from the authorities they rely on. Now \u2013 in September, which is Head Lice Prevention Month \u2013 is the perfect time for CDC to take action to ensure that its published advice on head lice is thorough, accurate, parent-friendly and up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause it\u2019s not about lice, it\u2019s about kids.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s a critical difference between treating lice and treating a child infested with lice.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The National Pediculosis Association,\u00ae Inc. Mission Statement:<\/strong>
The NPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated since 1983 to protecting children, their families and their environment from the misuse and abuse of prescription and over-the-counter pesticide treatments for lice and scabies.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPediculosis (the medical term for an infestation of lice) provides a public health opportunity to teach important lessons about communicable disease preparedness, responsible personal behaviors, environmental health, and the importance of learning about pharmaceutical remedies before using them on our children and ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NPA is committed to setting the highest possible public health standards for children as they relate to the communicability and treatment of head lice. NPA has been the leader in raising pediculosis as a public health priority and a pioneer in public health education and research on pediculosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NPA developed the LiceMeister\u00ae comb in 1997 to accomplish its mission by providing a higher standard for lice combing tools and a safe, cost-effective treatment alternative to pesticides. All proceeds from sales of the LiceMeister comb allow the NPA to be self-sustaining and independent from product manufacturers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n