As a parent, finding out your child has head lice can be stressful and concerning. You may be wondering if you should still go to work or if you need to stay home to help treat your child’s lice infestation. Here are some important factors to consider when deciding whether to take time off work if your child has lice.
How contagious are lice?
Head lice spread mainly through direct head-to-head contact. Less commonly, they can spread through sharing personal items like hats, towels, brushes, and headphones. However, lice do not fly or jump, and they typically do not spread by brief, casual contact. You are unlikely to catch lice from your child simply by going to work or being out in public. The biggest risk factor is prolonged, direct head contact. As long as you avoid sharing personal items or direct head contact with your child, your risk of catching lice while continuing to work is low.
Can I transmit lice to coworkers or clients?
While it’s theoretically possible for you to transmit lice to another person, the chances are very low unless you have direct head-to-head contact. Lice do not typically spread through quick brushes of hair or hats. As long as you avoid prolonged head contact with others, it is unlikely you would transmit lice simply by going to work. Letting your coworkers know your child has lice and avoiding close head contact can minimize transmission risks.
Will I be productive if I’m worried or tired?
Treating a lice infestation can be tiring and stressful. You may have been up late washing and nitpicking your child’s hair. The constant itching and thought of bugs in your child’s hair could make it hard to focus at work. If you anticipate having trouble concentrating and being productive, it may be better to take a day off to rest and tackle treatment. But if you can compartmentalize the issue at home and still work efficiently, going to work could provide a helpful distraction.
Can I afford to take time off?
Depending on your job and financial situation, you may or may not be able to afford taking time off work. Salaried employees may be able to take a paid day off more easily, while hourly workers could lose out on vital wages. Think through your budget, upcoming expenses, and how much you rely on each day’s pay. If missing a day’s pay will be a major financial burden, you may need to work despite the lice. But if you have sick days or can otherwise absorb the loss of pay, staying home may be the best choice.
How flexible is my work?
Some jobs are more flexible than others when it comes to taking time off on short notice. If you know you can work from home for a day or shift your schedule, that will make staying home more feasible. But if you work set hours on-site and have no coverage, calling out or leaving early may not be an option. Assess how accommodating your workplace is likely to be and whether it’s possible to work from home or adjust your schedule before deciding to take time off.
How severe is the infestation?
The extent of your child’s lice infestation should factor into your decision. If there are only a few live lice and you catch the problem early, continuing to work while doing minimal treatment at home may be reasonable. But if there is a severe infestation with many live bugs and nits scattered throughout your child’s hair, taking comprehensive time off for thorough treatment is probably wise.
Who can treat my child while I’m working?
Ideally, you should be available for at least the first lice treatment to comb out bugs and eggs. But if you must work, consider who can supervise treatment in your absence. A spouse, family member, or babysitter who follows treatment instructions carefully can take your place. But if no one else is available to comb and monitor your child’s hair, you may need to take time off work to handle treatment yourself.
Conclusion
Deciding whether to take time off work when your child has lice is ultimately a personal choice based on your specific circumstances. There are benefits to staying home, such as avoiding spreading lice, being able to focus on treatment, and providing supervision. But there are also benefits to continuing work, like maintaining your wages, upholding your professional responsibilities, and keeping some normalcy. Consider all the factors and practicalities for your situation before making a decision. With some planning and precaution, it is often possible to work at least part of the time while managing lice at home when necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is someone with lice contagious?
A person with an active lice infestation can spread the bugs until they are fully treated with a pediculicide shampoo and all live lice and most nits are removed. It usually takes about 1-2 weeks to eliminate a lice infestation with proper treatment. Once no live lice are present, the person is no longer very contagious.
Can I get lice from my work environment?
It’s uncommon but possible to get lice from shared items at work like helmets, headsets, or hats. Lice very rarely spread through common surfaces like chairs or desks. Maintaining your own equipment when possible and avoiding shared headgear reduces work-related lice risks.
What’s the likelihood of getting lice from brief contact?
The risk of getting lice from briefly hugging, sitting near, or making incidental contact with someone who has lice is extremely low. Shared personal items like combs pose more risk, but you cannot catch lice just by being near an infested person for short periods.
Can I wear a hat to prevent spreading lice at work?
Wearing your own hat at work can help minimize any small risk of spreading lice through casual head contact. A tight-fitting beanie or other hat covering your hair fully contains live lice. Change hats daily and avoid lending your hat to others.
Is it possible to just have lice in your work area and not spread it?
If you avoid close head contact with others and do not share any hair accessories or headgear, it is possible to have lice without spreading it at work. Lice transmission requires prolonged head-to-head contact in most cases. Just being cautious about contact reduces contagion risks.
Can I ask my employer for time off if my child gets lice?
Most employers will understand needing time off for a family health issue like lice. Many companies allow using sick days or paid time off to care for ill family members. Be honest about the situation and request the time off according to your workplace policy.
What’s an acceptable amount of time to take off work for lice?
For a mild lice case caught early, 1-2 days off is often sufficient for initial combing and treatment. More extensive infestations may warrant 3-5 days for complete nit removal and cleaning. Discuss an acceptable timeframe with your workplace based on the severity.
Should I tell clients/coworkers my child has lice?
You don’t need to proactively notify all colleagues about your child’s lice. But discretely informing close coworkers who interact with you regularly can make them aware of transmission risks and avoid head contact.
Can lice treatment chemicals impact my work performance?
Some topical lice treatments contain chemicals like pyrethrins that can potentially cause side effects like itching, rash, headache, or dizziness for some people. This could temporarily impact concentration and function at work in rare cases.
Treatment Options
When deciding how to manage lice with a busy work schedule, consider these treatment options:
| Treatment | Process | Time Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| At-home lice combs | Manually combing out lice and nits with special nit combs | 30+ minutes per combing session, daily for 10-14 days |
| Pediculicide shampoos | Using chemical shampoos like permethrin or pyrethrins | Leaving on hair for 10+ minutes, repeat after 7-10 days |
| Dimethicone lotions | Applying silicone-based suffocating lotions | Coating hair thoroughly, leave on for 8+ hours before rinsing out |
| Head lice clinics | Visiting professional nitpickers | 30+ minutes for initial appointment |
| Prescription drugs | Taking oral medications like ivermectin | Single dose, potentially repeat after 7-10 days |
Some options like combing and medications can be done outside work hours, while others like clinic visits may require time off. Discuss options with your child’s doctor to determine the best lice treatment plan.
Preventing Reinfestation
To avoid repeated lice after returning to work, take these preventive steps:
- Comb hair thoroughly with a nit comb 2-3 times per week
- Avoid shared personal headgear at work
- Be diligent about not sharing combs, helmets, headphones etc
- Use lice-repellent sprays or shampoos regularly
- Tie long hair back or wear hats
- Wash bedding frequently in hot water
- Limit prolonged head-to-head contact with anyone
Seeking Professional Help
If lice persist despite proper at-home treatment, or you need to continue working and need assistance managing lice, consider seeking professional help by:
- Making an appointment with your child’s pediatrician
- Hiring a professional nitpicker for thorough combing
- Using prescription lice medications
- Getting help cleaning the home environment
- Asking a family member to assist with combing and treatment
With professional support and vigilance, recurring lice can often be avoided while still maintaining a busy work schedule. Be proactive and take advantage of resources so lice do not disrupt work, school, and family life.
Conclusion
Deciding whether to take time off work when your child has lice requires weighing factors like contagiousness, work flexibility, infestation severity, and treatment options. While staying home can simplify lice management, for many parents, continuing work while handling treatment during off hours is feasible. With some adjustment and planning, most people can balance diligent lice treatment alongside professional responsibilities.