Lice Concerns for Parents

Recent reports of students being sent home in Little Rock because of head lice has a lot of parents on edge.

We spoke to one parent that did not want to be identified to protect her children who both attend an Elementary School in the Pulaski County Special School District.

But here's why she chose to share her story.

"I just figured if it's bad enough that 2 out of 4 stores I go to have absolutely nothing on their shelves, I said someone needs to know."

Protecting her identity for her children's sake this parent says she was stunned to learn both her children has lice.

"I was kind of in shock because I've never had to deal with lice before."

Looking to treat the problem wasn't easy, sending up a red flag.

"It's not normal to have that many products gone."

Pharmacist Stacy Riley says here at Cornerstone Pharmacy on Rodney Parham in Little Rock, lice products sit out front.

"Over the past two weeks we've had several parents call or come by looking for lice products. There's been quite the outbreak going around the elementary schools in town."

Riley says it's common in school for kids to get lice...

"So it's not a stigma you're not dirty if you get it, it's just something that happens unfortunately."

The latest concern, Baker Elementary - we spoke to PCSSD Public Information officer Deb Rouch who says there are 4 kids out of 500 students with lice.

A few weeks ago Little Rock Christian had students out.

We checked -- and all those students are back and school administrators say they feel the situation is under control.

None the less our parent says,

"There seems to be a big problem out there. And I don't want someone else to just get hit like I did blindsided."

Treating lice can be bothersome, but it's easy to do.

Get an over the counter shampoo that will kill the lice.

Make sure it has a nit comb in it so you can comb out the nits, because it will not kill the nits.

Then be sure to re-check your child in 7 to 10 days."

It may take some diligence.

"It took forever to clean everyone's hair and shampoo it and comb through it and then I had to do laundry, I was up past midnight doing laundry."

If you need additional information the Arkansas Health Department suggest going to the Centers for Disease Control website.