to be angry at parents who do nothing about their kids' headlice?

[atthecarwash]

I've just spent the last 45 min getting rid of the headlice and nits on my two youngest.

I've used a 15 min treatment plus conditioner and comb and it's the 3rd time in a month I've had to do this.

There are parents who simply can't be bothered to get rid of them and they are infecting everyone else. Aren't they disgusted by these pests?Am I overreactng?

YANBU

I think we tried everything last year with DD1 in reception always treating everyone in the family. She always got them again - it was awful.

Then her best friend a little boy left at the end of reception and we have not had them since despite DS starting Nursery.

This year the school have actually implemented their stated policy of having bug busting days - never happened last year. The school nurse has also given a talk about nits this year - suggesting that Grandparents are actually the source of infection. So the school obviously still has issues - but for us nothings so far.

Aimmeesmum thats the point I was trying to make - I work in social care - it can be a symptom and a sign of neglect but very very rarely (I have never encountered it being) would it be the first alarm bell that has rung.

To suggest reporting nits on its own is irresponsible.

Dimeticone (the active ingredient in Hedrin) is a chemical - but only in the sense that water is a chemical.

It is not an insecticide - it doesn't poison the lice, it acts by coating them (immobilises them) and getting into their airways so that they can't expel their excess water, which kills them. Because it works in this way, it's impossible for tolerance to develop - the effect is not through toxicity.

I find it works very well, but does have to be repeated 7 days later. AFAIK the period from laying to hatching for an egg is 7 days, hence the time frame.

BTW I find that soaking the hair with vinegar, leaving it on for 5 minutes and then washing gets rid off both live eggs and egg cases - it dissolves the 'glue' that binds them to the hair. It's unpleasant so I save it for serious infestations only - it stings the eyes and smells nasty - but it does work.

I also agree with checking and treating the adults, so far I've had them once in the last 3 years, DH has been lucky and escaped.

I like the idea of the school having a 'get rid of nits day' where everyone should condition and comb their child on a chosen date. At least it would encourage people to check their kids' hair as I'm sure some don't.

Where I live it seems like some parents think it's part of childhood and they're not bothered by them.
BTW....someone mentioned mollusum.....been there too with my kids. Looks awful but it will go away after 6 months so don't despair! At least it's not some horrible pest living in their scalp

unsurevalentine Absolutely, i'd never assume to report someone just for having an active lice infestation. I assumed you were referring to the girl i looked after sorry.

Although why anybody who knew their child had an infestation and not even try to treat it is beyond me, if i'm honest i'd see it as neglect.

I have only picked them up once since dd started school. Whole family had to be checked. My mum, sister, step dad, grandma, auntie & cousins the lot, also notified all dd's friends parents! Even had to inform the boyfriend at the time, who i'd only been seeing a month or so! cringe!!

I have had a real nit education day today. Have come to the conclusion that I can't be the only one who didn't know that thorough dry exam wouldn't show up nits even though I knew the treatment once discovered. So now, I would be being unreasonable if tomorrow I didn't do the full condition, comb, repeat thing. Today, I'm sorry I just didn't know. Any chance that others are the same? I think the nit letter would be a lot more use if it said that you won't always see them on dry hair even after thorough exam. We have memories of nit nurse- take out one plait, have a rummage and off you go.

asdx2 - What a caring, sensible arrangement.

I've worked in child protection for 10 years and we have never had a referral about nits!! Luckily schools know their CP policies!! If every child that had nits was referred we would go under in a week!!

Am I the only one itching since reading this thread?

slipperandpjsmum - I missed the bit about nits being suggested as a referral "issue." All of their own?

Sorry, that was a bit too subtle, what I mean is, cases of untreated headlice need vigorous investigation. To protect families trying to do the right thing.

there was a message on the school door this morning saying there has been a case of headlice, parents should check and if lice are found, the child would not be allowed back into school without a certificate from the Dr that the child is nit-free!

Way to go! I think we all need to be more militant about it and then they might be eradicated for good

So, it goes around. In the days of the "nit nurse" a case of head lice would be identified. In confidence, the family would be informed and in most cases would subsequently be treated with or without advice and no fuss made. Assurance was given that it was no reflection on the family, indeed headlice prefer clean hair. I repeat, no fuss was made.

OP - how do you KNOW some parents 'can't be bothered to get rid of them'? Do they actually admit to as much?

Lice do actually come back you know, even after using the correct treatment/wet combing or whatever. You may have just been unlucky.

Sticylittlefingers - I don't think so it's a serious enough issue. No need to be facetious though.

FGS

They are harder to eradicate now because they have grown resistant to the pesticides traditionally used to kill them off.

Its like bugs becoming resistant to antibiotics. MRSA, for instance.

Aren't people aware of this?

I wasn't being facetious.... I'm just living in Germany at the moment!!