HOUSTON—
Each year an estimated 12 million people will get lice. The creepy crawlers are nuisances commonly faced by school-age children and their frustrated parents. Lice are also the second leading reason for school absenteeism."Everybody gets head lice, everybody. So probably the only good thing about it becoming so prevalent is that it is starting to lose its stigma," said Penny Warner with Texas Lice Squad.
At Texas Lice Squad in Missouri City, employees carefully remove lice and their eggs, commonly referred to as nits, from patient's hair. Warner started the one-of-a-kind business after her own two daughters where sent home from school with a lice infestation.
"As a mom that went through this for 8 months, I don't wish this on anybody. I really don't," said Warner.
The former Memorial-Hermann Hospital nurse is now using the learning experience to help other desperate parents fin relief from the troublesome pests.
"We tried probably in the last two months to get rid of it," said parent, Mark Shearer.
If not for the summer break, Shearer's daughter may have had a lengthy absence from school. Many public and private schools have a "No-Nit" policy banning students with lice from the classroom.
The American Academy of Pediatrics or AAP released a set of guidelines recommending students stay in class even if they have lice. The organization says lice does not pose a health risk and is not a reason to skip class. It also expanded recommendations on over the counter and prescription treatments.
Despite the AAP new recommendations, it does not sit well with parents and lice experts like Warner.
"The problem is, it does get spread in schools," said Warner
It is a common problem in many schools especially after summer when students' return to the classroom with lice held over from camp and sleepovers.
"There is no magic potion out there you just got to get them all out," said Warner.
The painstaking process of ridding lice is helping Warner's business take off. Already she is expanding her offices in Dallas and San Antonio.
