It is something which happens nearly every school year. The letter home saying a child at school has head lice. The letter can send shivers down someone’s spine, have people scratching at phantom itches on their scalp, and then on the search for the specialized combs and shampoos to treat the condition.

Dr. Lanre Medu is the Medical Health Officer for the Sun Country Health Region. He is reminding residents head lice are generally harmless, and are more of an irritation than anything else.

“Other than the local irritation and itching that is experienced by the person, they do not necessarily carry any disease,” Medu explained.

If head lice are found on your child’s scalp, or the nits attached to the hair, it is recommended to use one of the specialized shampoos designed for treating head lice. Medu says it is best to apply the shampoo seven days after the original treatment, to ensure the lice have been taken care of.

Unlike previous advice from decades past, it is no longer recommended for students to miss school, according to Medu. He explained as long as the children avoid head-to-head contact, they shouldn’t have to worry about passing the lice.