Antigo schools: As kids no longer distance, lice cases back to pre-COVID levels

ANTIGO — Head lice cases returned to pre-COVID levels at schools throughout the district during the past school year, according to Antigo School District Nurse Darlaen Jansen.

While lice cases are not tracked in the school district, Jansen estimated the amount of cases was roughly the same as the amount prior to the pandemic.

“It stopped during COVID because we had the social distancing,” Jansen said. “The most common way that it spread was usually head to head contact. So now that distancing is a thing of the past, lice is making itself known.”

Jansen believes the most cases in the past year were discovered in the city’s elementary schools.

“Those kids play in closer proximity,” she said. “At the high school, you don’t see kids getting really close and leaning over and whispering. One thing parents can do is encourage your kids not to share combs, hair brushes, or hats. At the elementary schools, it’s really easy when it’s time to go outside to grab a hat and put it on, whether it’s yours or not.”

“So making sure you don’t share hats, berets, and things like that is really for the best.”

Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Communications Specialist Elizabeth Goodsitt said that while her organization also does not track statewide head lice cases, they are likely back up as well.

“Our epidemiologists say we would expect case numbers to return to pre-COVID-19 levels as children and community members resume closer interactions that provide the opportunity for hair-to-hair contact (hugs, sports, play activities) and increased sharing of items (hats, hair ties, brushes, towels),” Goodsitt wrote in an email. “There are more cases of head lice infestation among school-age children than there are of all other communicable diseases combined, except for the common cold. An estimated six million people in the U.S. are infested annually.”

Goodsitt also said head lice — which she went on to explain feed on human blood, move only by crawling as opposed to flying or jumping, and can lay up to 10 eggs a day which they then attach to human hair follicles with a specially secreted glue — is most commonly seen in young children.

“Anyone can become infested with head lice, but infestations are most commonly found among children 3-11 years old in schools and day care centers,” she said.

P.J. Liesch, an extension entomologist and director of the University of Wisconsin Insect Diagnostic Lab, said that contrary to stereotypes, personal hygiene actually does not play a role in contracting head lice.

“‘Luck’ (or being ‘unlucky’) is a big factor. Someone can have poor hygiene and never get head lice. Conversely, someone could have great personal hygiene, but if they engage in behaviors that expose them to head lice (such as sharing hats), they could pick them up,” Leisch said. “In terms of dealing with an infestation of head lice, hygiene can play a role. Management of head lice often includes multiple approaches such as medicated louse shampoos available both over the counter or prescribed by a physician. In addition, special fine-toothed combs can be used to physically remove nits (eggs) and lice, but must be done regularly and thoroughly to maximize effectiveness.”

Jansen said retailers around Antigo like Lakeside, Walmart, and Walgreens sell the special combs.

“You can’t just comb it once, because if you leave one nit in the hair that doesn’t die with the treatment, in two weeks, you will have lice again,” Jansen said. “Then that louse will go through and it will lay eggs and then you will have that whole issue again. So it’s really important that you use that nit comb at least every day for five days, and then no hair conditioner for five days after they use that product.”

Jansen said live lice can live for three days without feeding on a living host, so community members dealing with persistent lice problems can take steps like thoroughly cleaning bed sheets and carpets, using lice-repellent shampoos infused with ingredients like mint, rosemary, or tea tree oil, and even considering their children’s stuffed animals.

“If the stuffed animals can not be washed in hot water and placed in the dryer, they need to put them all in a plastic bag, tie it off, and put it out in the sun for two weeks,” she said. “It will heat it up, and after two weeks, the nits die — if they hatch, there’s nothing for them to feed on, because they need a living host.”

While Jansen emphasized the need for community members to respond thoroughly to cases of head lice, she said the problem is not widespread in the district.

“I don’t think it’s specific to the district. Every school district has it. Every community has it. So I don’t think it’s something that we as a school district need to be concerned about, because I don’t believe it to be a school district issue, but a community issue. We do have it, and what do we do? We just have to prevent, or get rid of it, and then prevent it from recurring,” Jansen said.

Those seeking further information about head lice can contact the county health department.