Headlice (merged)

looby75

jenniferpa wrote:

Actually this is an interesting point. There does seem to be a standard line in the UK that other things don't need to be treated, and it seems cases of nits have increased, while in the US, treatment of bedding etc is SOP, and head lice cases are decreasing. Connection perhaps? You don't need to go overboard, but I would definitely clean clothing particularly coats and wash pillowcases.

Jennifer

I post on some American parenting message boards, I've been on one in particular for 6 yrs now, ever since I found out I was pg with my youngest and we have children the same age. And from what I've read over the years it seems that head lice is just as big a problem in the US as the UK, as soon as the kids start mixing with other kids nits become a problem. IMO they go WAY over the top bleaching bed linen and clothes, disinfecting everything the kids might have ever touched and some of the mums on the boards have even told me of people they know who have used strong pine defecting to wash the kids hair :eek: (thankfully the group I post with seem all to be much more sensible than that)

tyllwyd

That's really tough - my little girl had lice constantly for about two months and I was at my wit's end, but then she changed desks at school and the problem went away as if by magic.

How about an electric comb - does that irriate his scalp? I bought a vibrating one (called a magicomb) I couldn't swear to you that it works though, because like I say the problem went away by itself. I found a website called the lice program which helped me understand the lifecycle (http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/theliceprogram/theprogram.html). Oh, and I bought a different headlice comb called Nitty Gritty.

I also read that an old-fashioned method of getting rid of them is by covering your hair in olive oil and leaving it for a few hours (or I bought some NittyGritty aromatherapy oil). If he has got bad skin, I wonder if covering his head in something like aqueous cream might do something similar without irritating his skin.

Oh, and are you sure it is nits they are seeing? I just wondered if it might be white flakes of skin that they assumed were nits.

jenniferpa

looby75 wrote:

I post on some American parenting message boards, I've been on one in particular for 6 yrs now, ever since I found out I was pg with my youngest and we have children the same age. And from what I've read over the years it seems that head lice is just as big a problem in the US as the UK, as soon as the kids start mixing with other kids nits become a problem. IMO they go WAY over the top bleaching bed linen and clothes, disinfecting everything the kids might have ever touched and some of the mums on the boards have even told me of people they know who have used strong pine defecting to wash the kids hair :eek: (thankfully the group I post with seem all to be much more sensible than that)

Well of course the obvious solution is to cut the child's head off - that will solve the problem. :rotfl:

It's sufficient to either heat the items in question or freeze them or seal them in a plastic bag for a couple of weeks. Most evidence one hears about this problem is anectdotal - all I can say is when my children were small 1 letter a year regarding this issue was about as frequent as it got.
Anyway, a little light hoovering is a small price to pay if it gets rid of the stupid things.

Jennifer

nearlyrich

Don't know why I read this because my two are both grown up! Now my head is itchy just thinking about it !!!


I hope it gets sorted soon because the poor lad has enough problems.

Js_Other_Half

jenniferpa wrote:

The other problem is that if a commericial preparation is used, there is a certain level of confidence that it has worked, and I don't think that's always the case.

I used to work with kids who had a disability. Years ago, we had a teenage girl who came straight from a hospital stay - along with her nits. We spoke to the nursing staff who had treated her with Derbac, but she wouldn't let them comb it out...
With her Mum's permission, we managed to get a nit comb through her hair, and managed to get her nit free (acquiring many scratches and nips!) I wonder if some parents don't actually comb out the hair properly after being treated?

I am sure I caught nits at a summer scheme as a kid from fabric seats on a bus?

Alleycat

Just reading this thread with interest. Not yet there with our little one, thankfully, but it brings back the memories of my time in primary school.

Bring back the nit nurse, I say!! I remember so many times having to stand in line in the library waiting for the dreaded nurse with her jug of watered down disinfectant and comb.

My mum works in a primary school and brought home scabies one time. I caught it off her just before I went back to Uni for the new term and gave it to all my house mates, who gave it to their boyfriends, who gave it to their housemates. It was soo embarrassing having to explain that they had to go to the doctors for some cream and wash absolutely everything, bedding, clothes etc.

Eagle_1

Clicky

I thought id post this link for the Bug Busting Kit. I never use chemicals on my DD since I found this. Dont forget its FREE on prescription and dont be suprised if your GP is not aware of this because mine wasnt till I told him.

Sultana

My only advice is don't shave his head without checking first that the school won't exclude him for having a shaved head.

With my kids I just keep combing. Some days I find a few, some days I don't. None of them is 'crawling' but they do seem to be semi-permanent residents.

Spendless

Eagle_1 wrote:

Clicky

I thought id post this link for the Bug Busting Kit. I never use chemicals on my DD since I found this. Dont forget its FREE on prescription and dont be suprised if your GP is not aware of this because mine wasnt till I told him.

Thanks. DD had an allergic reaction to some detangling spray I used, trying to comb her hair out and my GP did tell me to come back to him in future for stuff to get rid off on her hair.

With regards to Derbac- used it on sons and it worked :j , no problem since. On DD hair they were still alive after the 12 hours recommended time :eek:.

Deni_zen

Hi

We have tried EVERYTHING for headlice... one method that might work is olive oil which I guess might be soothing on his head.

Puts loads of olive oil on his head and wrap up in a plastic bag and towel overnight(messy but might work). I did this on myself and it di seem to at least reduce the itchiness and get rid of lots of them.

Wash out in the morning with a mild and gentle shampoo.

Hope this helps

Deni :wave: :wave: