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Written question asked by Mark Hendrick (Labour) on Monday, 8 October 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 October 2018. It was answered by Steve Brine (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 October 2018 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Head Lice: Children

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of whether their is a causal link between the increased use of portable electronic devices and the (a) incidence and (b) prevalence of head lice in (i) primary and (ii) secondary school aged children; and what support his Department provides to schools to help (A) prevent and (B) treat head lice infestations.

Answer

Public Health England has not carried out any assessment or study on the relationship between use of portable electronic devices and head lice in school aged children.

School nurses and their teams as public health nurses provide advice and guidance to schools and parents on head lice prevention and treatment; however they do not check individual pupils’ hair. Parents are best placed to identify head lice and should be encouraged to regularly check their own child’s hair.

Parents may also seek advice from their practice nurse or pharmacist.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
175966
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Children Mobile phones Schools Head lice
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk