School Nurse Questions National Guidelines for Head Lice
A school nurse in Ohio was researching the basis of his school’s policy on children with head lice, and the possibility of resistance. In doing so, he found that the National Association of School Nurses and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations were based on a Harvard-promulgated document entitled “Guidelines for Resistant Lice.” The nurse also found out that the panel which authored the document where largely individuals who directly or indirectly worked for the makers of lice treatment products. Enclosed in the document were four factors listed as contributing to lice resistance:
- “Inappropriate use of pediculicides in non-lice cases.” Resistance can’t occur when there are no lice.
- “Overuse of over-the-counter treatments on nonviable nits or dead lice.” Resistance can’t occur when organisms are dead.
“Misuse of pediculicides.” This one is OK.
“Use as prophylaxis.” Resistance can’t occur when you use a treatment before organisms exist.
The nurse could find no record of peer review, and he wonders if the document was even proof-read prior to publication. He also wonders how the association that represents school nurses could have approved this report. When the report surfaced in 2000, the National Pediculosis Association submitted a report to the Dean of Harvard School of Public Health about the inaccuracies, but the Dean took no action. (PRWeb, 5/1/03).
