Yellowknife (Sep 17/03) - There should be no scratching heads over the elimination of the "no-nit policy" associated with head lice in the schools.

According to the Yellowknife Public Health Unit, the "no-nit policy" is not effective, therefore it has been removed from community schools.

"It hasn't shown to help with the incidence or treatment of head lice," said Karen Deviller, director of community health.

In past years, students were required to visit public health units on a regular basis to have their heads checked for lice. Any student showing signs of nits, whether live or dead, were immediately sent home, causing even healthy children to be excluded from school.

"We have done a lot of research on this issue," said Deviller, who explained students were being sent home when they posed little or no risk to others.

In order to spread lice, head-to-head contact must take place. The greyish insects are about the size of a pinhead and can live up to 30 days near the hair root, and only migrate through direct contact with an infested person.

School nurses are now conducting head-lice checks on a weekly basis in all schools. Any indication of a head-lice case will be taken care of in a calm, practical and reasonable approach, according to Deviller.

"It is not as urgent as one may think," said Deviller. "Lice is not a reportable disease."

Once a discovery of the insect is made, a letter will be sent home with the child along with a pamphlet which provides detailed information on how to eliminate it. "The most important thing is that parents also check their children's heads once a week," said Deviller.

Flo Campbell, principal of Ecole St. Joseph School, explained that school boards are working with the public health unit to help parents understand it is their responsibility to conduct regular checks on their children.

"We are just tightening up procedures," said Campbell, adding that working with parents on this topic "will have a great effect."