A recurring case is defined as a student found repeatedly with live head lice for 3 consecutive weeks or 3 separate months during a school year. For these cases school staff will continue to follow the stated intervention protocol. Additionally other school personnel may be consulted for help in determining the best approach to identifying and resolving the problems that impact the student’s recurring head lice condition. These personnel may include the school nurse, student support staff, guidance counselor, and other appropriate individuals able to provide assistance, resources, and recommendations. Actions to address a recurring case may include:

• Consultation with the family to review the student’s history and treatment approaches to identify problems and needs. The failure of a head lice treatment is a common and frustrating problem. Possible reasons for this include:
  • Re-infestations from another person or from contaminated clothes, hats, etc.
  • Resistance of lice to insecticides or an improperly applied treatment by failure to follow product directions. If a course of one kind of treatment fails, a different treatment may be selected for the next course.
  • Misdiagnosis of an inactive case. It is important to look for active lice not just nits.
• The student should be seen by a pediatrician or family doctor.
• Provide consultation and additional information regarding treatment options. Including specific review of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for treatment, prevention and control, and additional measures to prevent re-infestation.
• Assist the family in developing and implementing consistent actions regarding screening, treatment, and prevention.
• Refer the family for assistance, resources, and/or recommendations to appropriate community agencies.
• Assist the family in identifying necessary resources. For example students or families identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act are eligible for financial and other assistance through the WPS homeless liaison.