Expert interview: lice in kindergarten

How often do you have to fight a lice infestation in kindergarten?

Mr. Joachim Klingel: About 2-3 times a year, mainly after the holidays. Most of the time, these are isolated cases, and the spread in the facility can usually always be prevented.

How to deal with a lice infestation?

Mr. Joachim Klingel: The children are checked with a lice comb by the educators, who can reliably detect lice in this way . This control only takes place if there is a suspicion, for example if the school reports a case of lice infestation to us . If a child is affected, the parents will be informed immediately to pick up the child. The child may not return to the facility until a doctor has confirmed to us in writing that the child is free of lice. This procedure has proven itself and is largely accepted by the parents.

How are the parents of the other children informed immediately?

Mr. Joachim Klingel: In the event of a lice infestation, an anonymous notice is made immediately, which informs the other parents of the infestation. We are of course also available to parents for further questions.

Is the kindergarten sometimes closed for a few days if there is a severe lice infestation?

Mr. Joachim Klingel: Fortunately, this has never happened before. In the event of a severe infestation, we would not only close, we would also be obliged to do so under the Infection Protection Act. It is therefore important to us to prevent a heavy infestation.

How is it asked whether the affected children are being treated?

Mr. Joachim Klingel: The parents usually get in touch with us themselves and let us know the current status. Irrespective of this, the children must be treated against lice , since they are only allowed to visit the facility again with a doctor’s certificate. Fast and effective treatment is therefore also in the interests of the parents.

What measures does the kindergarten take to prevent lice infestation?

Mr. Joachim Klingel: On the one hand, the above-mentioned quick and uncomplicated check in case of suspicion. In this case, it is better to be safe than sorry. If a child has a head lice infestation, we react to it. Areas in which there is an increased risk of transmission (e.g. cuddle/tobe corner) are temporarily closed, checked and cleaned.

As we are not yet aware of any transmission within our facility, these precautionary measures appear to be working well.

How do the parents of the unaffected children react?

Mr. Joachim Klingel: The reactions to a lice infestation are very different. Some parents react with uncertainty because they are wondering what exactly is going on with lice . Others, on the other hand, react in panic and would prefer not to enter the facility again. There are also hysterical reactions, as one father threatened to sue for damages if his work area was affected.

Curious here: the majority of parents react much more sensitively and energetically to lice than to other, more dangerous diseases.

Is there still prejudice about children getting lice? How do you deal with that?

Mr. Joachim Klingel: It is of course important to us not to build up or reinforce any prejudices. If parents have questions for us about lice, we will answer them and try to calm them down. We do not receive any concrete statements from parents about children or families with lice infestation. This makes it difficult to deliberately break down prejudices. In any case, an explanation takes place.

Is there some kind of educational talk between educators and kindergarten children to avoid any teasing between the children and to remind the parents to regularly check their children’s heads?

Mr. Joachim Klingel: The topic is discussed in the groups. The children are amazingly unprejudiced and casual about the topic, teasing is not the order of the day. Parents are better reached through direct contact. However, it has proven to be sufficient to provide all parents with general information at the beginning of the kindergarten year, for example through notices, information in the parents’ letter, speeches at parents’ evenings or similar procedures.