Another nits question - your advice please

[Lazylou]

DD has got nits and headlice. It started about a week and a half ago and I dutifully bought some stuff for them. I did what the packet said and got the nit comb out, combing, combing, combing. I couldn't get all the eggs out though (I even resorted to picking them out of her hair myself). The packet said to do it all again in a weeks time, which is today, so have done it and combed her hair a squillion times again but there are some eggs still lurking.

How do I get the eggs out? They'll keep hatching won't they and she'll have headlice for ages? What should I do? She is scrathcing her head so much that there a sore red lumps on her head, as well as spots that have bled. I feel so sorry for her. I have never had to deal with nits before so this is a first experience for me.

Thanks

Combination of Hedrin or Delacet once a week and wet-combing/conditioner during the week seems to keep them at bay. Hedrin/Delacet is expensive to use on a regular basis though so maybe after the first 2 applications use less frequently but keep up the wet-combing to reduce cost.

Xenia - the stuff that was used, still is used but it doesn't work anymore. I think it's malathion.

Or get it on prescription may be. It's a long time since I used the chemicals. May be we did do it once and then 2 weeks later. I certainly remember incredulously looking at how many black lice dead on the white pillows there were in the morning when our hunt through the heads had appeared to find none sometimes.

It was the daughters with really long hair it was most a problem with. The boys never seemed to get it much.

Ah yes, malahtion. And prioderm I think they used to swap them around.

Prioderm contains Malathion.

Malathione does not kill eggs. I believe (according to google) its use in the UK was banned last year though.

Was it?
I thought it was still in Prioderm and Suleo M.

And remember that 50% of children don't itch when they have nits, so don't rely on scratching as an indicator! Hedrin is amazing 0- and does not use insecticides - which I personally would not put on my dc's heads. There is also Lice Attack, which works well. Also, bizarrely, Listerine. And vodka. You have to check at least once a week - wet comb if possible. If expense is not an issue, then hedrin every 7 days whether they need it or not is the answer. Pricy though!

here.

Reading it properly it says they decided to recommend to ban it in Sept 2006 but it won't come into force until about Sept 2007. And there hasn't actually been an official banning yet - just a recommendation to ban.
It also isn't clear whether it will be banned completely or just uses covered by Annex I of Directive 91/414/EEC whatever that is.

IN any case it is potentially toxic by-products causing its consideration from removal of the pesticides lists. You won't catch me using it when I can run a basic metal comb through my hair.

I used hedrin and it does seem to work, we also have a nitty grritty comb too. The combo seems to be doing the trick, I weyt comb quickly once a week when I wash and condition - not a full check but use the comb as a way to meake sure the condidtioner is through their hair. I also use an aromatherapy solution in the final rinse as a deterrant, that certainly seems to work well

And on me I simply straighten my hair a few times over a week, that fries them out

I'm surprised, as it sounds like it would be more time consuming (it would for me and I have long thick hair), but I am glad it works for you. If your child's head is sore, wouldn't the vinegar be very painful, though?

Hedrin or Lice Attack wouldn't hurt an already sore head - and the coconut oil makes them good for the hair. Might even be quite soothong to the scalp as well....

as an aside, I blame other parents & school for our two outbreaks we have had in the last term (only ever had them once before, 2 yrs ago)

Both time I found lice and eggs I wrote into the school asking for a standard letter to be circulated.

Nada ...

DD even told me who is constantly scrating in her class - the girl she is sitting next too this term .gggrrrr

Trust me, if we get them again I'm printing out the Nitty Gritty PDF and sending it to each parent.

I'm verging on paying for a Nitty Gritty for one of the parents in our class. Only it would probably be a waste of time in this instance as I doubt it would be used anywhere near effectively enough.

Someone on here recommended Alberto Balsam Tea Tree Tingle shampoo as a deterrent. Have used all this year and so far so good.

Our school do check the children and a standard letter comes home if any are found. DS had them last year in reception and I was phoned to come and get him. School nurse was v apologetic but it was a Friday of a holiday weekend and he reckoned that if the three children in the class who had them were treated twice over the weekend they could be clear by the time school went back. He checked DS before he was allowed back to school.

Miathilon (sic) is DDT (I think) It's been banned as an environmental/agricultural pesticide for years, as it has terrible effects higher up the food chain (peregrine falcon eggs being too thin etc)

Confusing re a ban as it's the product that our local chemists give out free if you DCs get head pets

It's very, very strong stuff

To add insult to nit injury I have now got them myself, is the final parenting taboo?

My son HAD head lice at the weekend. I literally only found 12 lice and I treated him with Headrin Once, I've since been combing his hair (wet combing with a nit comb!) twice daily and found nothing since treating him. His head is clear, there is NOTHING coming from the comb or in the scalp of his hair BUT... he's got bites and is therefore still itching. Are these left over bites that are now itching (as we all know bites itch for a few days after the event!!)?? He also has mild eczema on his scalp and i cant see which are/were bites and which is the eczema that he's been scratching and therefore making it worse!! Im looking for the nit guru woman Barbara Shenkin - does anyone have her details and/or advise...