Headlice at school, what to do?

[stokeytiger]

So, after a lovely summer of headlice-free children, they're back at school again and completely riddled with them. I've had to de-louse dd's hair 4 times in 3 weeks. I know how to get rid of them effectively. The problem is that her class is alive with headlice so she's being constantly reinfected. The school send out the odd letter, but don't treat it as a problem.

Does anyone have any tips on how to handle this or how I could persuade the school to try and do more? Or if the local health authority could help with the problem? Scratching (literally) my head for ideas!

[LillianGish]

I bought my daughter a headband which opened out in to a headscarf - ie a very wide headband which she pulled down over the back of her hair and tucked it all in. She loved it and wore that. Her hair was cut in a bob at the time so not easy to tie up. If your dds hair is long I would plait it tightly and pin it up. It is totally infuriating that some parents don't bother to get rid of the wretched nits in the first place, but don't see how the school can enforce it short of treating the kids themselves (which obviously they are not going to do!)

[GypsyMoth]

local authority wont do anything,and school cant do anything

its a part of childhood to be endured.....

nitty gritty comb
the new hedrin once
constant wet combing

[stokeytiger]

Thanks, already doing the plaits and headscarf and squirts of nittygritty, but these are Hackney headlice, so totally fearless and probably tooled up .
Was wondering if it could be seen as a health issue.

[GypsyMoth]

there was a thread earlier today about lice

now you didnt hear it from me,but apparently 'fronline' is the only way

yes,its for animals....but if you google it there is info on its human use....this was on a regular posters thread,her new name is,MamoTT A or some thing!!! cant remember it now!!

[GypsyMoth]

*frontline

[stokeytiger]

euurgggh!
so it's come to this...dog flea treatment

[dulwichparkrunner]

Great sympathy re the class being riddled. But also I can't help suspecting that if you have had to treat 4 times in 3 weeks it sounds as if you haven't got rid of them properly in the first place.

In my experience of head lice to be sure you are clear of them takes 3 weeks of combing (I also use the chemical shampoo) to beat their life cycle. Otherwise any eggs that you have inevitably missed will hatch and it all just starts up again.

But as you say, if the class is riddled, you are facing a real uphill battle in any case, so I feel great sympathy. You really would need a concerted combing effort from all parents at the same time.

[Missimpossible]

My DD nursery was constantly riddled with headlice. DD got them once. I started using conditioner with teatree oil on her hair every other day. Once a week I also spray her hair with a tea tree oil spray (lightly diluted) and she has never had them since. Not even when rest of has been infected.

[overmydeadbody]

Condition and comb every day, as a matter of roiutine, and then even if a little bugger crawls onto her head one day at school , you hopefully comb it out before it starts laying eggs.

I do DS's hair every time he washes it, every other day usually, and maybe once a month we comb out one louse that has got onto his head that day. Never has it got to the stage of him having eggs in his hair, or hatched lice.

[overmydeadbody]

We also use diluted ttea tree oil.

[daisysue2]

Same for me overmydeadbody. If it's bad I do the condition and comb with nitfree comb from sainsburys it's the only one that works. Also put the residue onto a white tissue to see if there is anything there or use magnifying glass. I found that my eyes had got so bad over the years that I wasn't actually seeing them properly. You have to get them before they lay.

[Over40]

Agree with the conditioner and brushing!
Another great tip is to use hairspray! Once my daughters hair is brushed and put into a bunch, I give it a quick all over spray. The buggers don't like it as it makes it difficult to hold on/crawl down/who cares but it seems to work! I'm REALLY temping fate her but she has never had nits in school or nursery and she's a year 5 now.

[SeaTrek]

I had a real problem with DS last year. Now I only wash and contition his hair with tea tree shampoo and conditioner - seems to have worked!

[pointythings]

Hairspray is brilliant! We do a weekly condition and comb with the Nitty Gritty, and at school they have their hair tied back and misted with hairspray. We've been nit-free for more than a year now despite repeated outbreaks at school.

[Elibean]

Definitely endorse the spray and tie back method of prevention. I spray both dds hair with teatree based prevention spray every single morning (its mildly conditioning, not oily) and plait or bunch. No nits even when class has had lots.

So far

[NotAnotherChinHair]

Another fan of tea tree oil here. I just put a few drops in the shampoo or conditioner once a week. So far so good.

[pointythings]

Aaaargh found a nit today. It was very lethargic and nearly dead, but here we go with the Hedrin! Shouldn't have said anything, should I?

[edwardsre]

if a child has a severe case of headlice is it right for the child to be sent home and be secluded until he/she are clear?

[dontdillydally]

ok go to your local Boots and buy a "Nitty Gritty Comb".

It's a metal twirly pronged comb that traps the pesky things, doesnt splay out etc...

It is FANTASTIC ... its around a tenner but worth every penny.

I use tea tree conditioner (alberta balsam really cheap aroudn £1 a bottle) and lay it on thick and just comb through.

I do the nitty gritty comb once a week as part of the hair-washing routine even if ds doesnt have them

[wheelsonthebus]

can you see the critters on a nitty gritty comb? - i never seem able to

[dontdillydally]

yes I have a jug of water and after each comb I wash it in the jug you can see them floating at the top!!!

[Buda]

I thank God I am in a country where the school can and does check the children after every holiday and send them home if they have them. I got called to come get DS once in reception. He and two others had nits. Nurse was very apologetic but said it was a long weekend and i could treat over weekend and I had to take DS back to nurse to be checked before he was let back into school. I didnt have a problem with it and nor did the other mums.

The current situation in uk seems ridiculous.

[meditrina]

Leave-in repellant conditioner helps. I like the one in Boots Headlice Kit, but I should imagine you get much the same effect by adding a few drops of tea tree oil to any leave-in.