Lice Clinics of America® – Northwest Honors Teachers and School Nurses in May with Free Screenings

During National Nurse Appreciation week (May 6-10) and National Teacher Appreciation Day (May 7), Lice Clinics of America® – Northwest is calling attention to the important role school nurses and teachers play in the community’s health by offering postcards that serve as certificates for free screenings for head lice and educational information to distribute to parents.

 

“We partner with school nurses and teachers throughout the Northwest area all year round,” said George Macoubray, co-owner of Lice Clinics of America – Northwest. “They are often the ‘messengers’ that alert parents and children to the presence of head lice, which can be stressful and uncomfortable, and we want to help make that message less scary.”

 

Professional screenings are one of the best ways to prevent the spread of head lice. Misdiagnosis of head lice is common, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and screening can give parents much-needed relief if no lice are present. If head lice are found, early detection can make treatment faster and easier.

 

“Screenings usually cost $25,” Macoubray said, “but we are giving teachers and nurses certificates for free screenings this week.” The certificates include a description of the symptoms of head lice­­.

 

“We also want to help teachers and school nurses by educating the community about head lice,” Macoubray said. “The stigma that head lice are the result of poor hygiene makes parents think that they have done something wrong when a child has head lice and often keeps them from seeking treatment, which just makes things worse.”

 

“The CDC says, ‘Personal hygiene or cleanliness in the home or school has nothing to do with getting head lice,’” Macoubray said.

 

The good news for parents is that if lice are found at the Northwest clinic or at home, a cure is just an hour away. The clinic is the area’s exclusive provider of lice treatment using the revolutionary AirAllé® medical device. It’s an FDA-cleared, Class I medical device clinically proven to kill live lice and more than 99 percent of eggs (nits) using microprocessor-controlled heated air to dehydrate the bugs and eggs. Most treatments take about an hour and are guaranteed to be effective.

Head lice have become more difficult to treat in recent years as lice have developed a resistance to the pesticides used by the most popular over-the-counter lice products. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology found that 98 percent of head lice in most states are now immune to the pesticides—called pyrethroids—that the products use. Pyrethroids have also been linked to behavioral and developmental problems in children.

“Most of the people that come to our clinic have already tried and failed to get rid of lice with pesticide-based products,” Macoubray said. “Many have been struggling with head lice for months, and they’re so relieved to know we have a fast, safe, guaranteed solution.”

The Northwest clinics also offer pesticide-free, guaranteed home lice-treatment and prevention products.

With 330 clinics in 35 countries, Lice Clinics of America is the world’s largest network of professional lice treatment centers. The AirAllé medical device has treated more than 950,000 cases of head lice around the world with a success rate better than 99 percent.

Lice Clinics of America – Northwest has five locations – Bend, Portland, Clackamas, Salem, OR and Vancouver, WA. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, visit https://liceclinicsnorthwest.com, email info@liceclinicsnorthwest.com or call Portland (503) 404-0475, Clackamas (503) 714-7722, Vancouver (360) 334-6360, Salem (971) 273-5900 or Bend (541) 640-5335.