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General health

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Original poster

Head Lice.... treated dd TWICE and she's still crawling with the wee B******ds!!!

22 replies

Sackache · 28/01/2007 13:12

Help?!

What am i doing wrong? I've treated us all twice with the insecticide stuff. can only use it another once then it says i can't use it again.

What can i doooooooooo?

OP posts:

blossomhill · 28/01/2007 13:13

Chemicals don't work. You need to comb them out every night for about a fortnight. Is the only way I am afraid!

Miaou · 28/01/2007 13:16

Agree with bh. A lot of headlice are resistant to them now. You need to get a comb-out system (we had one which I lent to a friend and I've just remembered she never gave it back!!). I got mine on prescription from the GP and it is really great - can't remember which one it is though (and can't look at the box, obviously, grrr )

Itsthawooluff · 28/01/2007 13:16

shed loads of conditioner + nitty gritty comb with long tines every night as blossomhill says.

Plus wash pillow cases + hats etc

nutcracker · 28/01/2007 13:17

If you do the conditioner thing, I find it works best if you slather it on and then comb through but then leave until it is almost dry, that way when you comb through it again, all the lice have stuck to the conditioner and get pulled out.

Just combing through with slimey conditioner on didn't work for us as they eggs and lice just slid steaight through the comb.

WideWebWitch · 28/01/2007 13:17

You really do need a comb and conditioner and you need to do it EVERY night for 2 weeks and they'll be gone. Really, it works, PITA though it is.

Original poster

Sackache · 28/01/2007 13:17

Thanks Blossomhill.
I tried the comb, but she's only 2 and screamed for hours afterwards and wriggled so much I'd need someone to hold her down! And there's only me.

OP posts:

Blandmum · 28/01/2007 13:21

Wet combing with loads of conditioner.

I know it is tough with little ones.

I used to let them pick their fav video, plonk them in front of it, and bribe them with chocolate buttons. Every 3 days for two weeks. It will work, but you have to plug away at it.

Miaou · 28/01/2007 13:23

Just discovered via google, the combs etc I used were the Bug Busting kit. It comes with a plastic cape and different size combs, and the instructions on what to do when are really clear. Agree about the video and chocolate buttons, it's the only way!

SmileysPeople · 28/01/2007 13:25

WE've recently gone through this and used the wet comb method as recommended and it did work.
I have DS's though, I imagine thrying to do this with long hair would be a nightmare.

I went to the GP and got the nitty gritty comb on prescription, I thought I as might as well get one to last, as everyone tells me this is likely to reoccur, and combing every month or so will keep a check on their reappearance.

I bought but never used the chemical shampoo, as everyone I spoke to told me not to bother.

collision · 28/01/2007 13:25

Once you have got rid of them there is a spray you can buy to prevent nits!

My friend has 3 dds and sprays them every morning before they go to school. she says since she has used it they have all been bug free!

Glad I have boys!! If they ever got them I would just shave their heads!

southeastastra · 28/01/2007 13:28

hedrin is good it coats them with oil, you leave it on all night and wash off in the morning. but have to repeat few days later. it's very expensive though!

Original poster

Sackache · 28/01/2007 13:30

I got a comb... but it says its just for detecting headlice. Do I need to get a different comb?

This is a right royal PITA!

OP posts:

Blandmum · 28/01/2007 13:34

If it has nice, close 'teeth' it will do. The Bug busting stuff is good, but ant nit comb will do. Any conditioner will do as well, but a big bottle of cheap stuff.

You don't have to do it every day. Every 3 days will catch the little buggers before they are old enough to leave the child's head, so she can't pass them on while you are clearning them.

As you comb you will see the damn things. they come in 4 different sizes (they can't grow until they shed their skins so they grow in big 'jumps') As time goes on you'll see them get smaller and smaller. If you suddenly get a big one it means she has been re-infested. After 2 weeks she should be clear.

Tea tree can help prevent but nothing is 100% sure.

And the nits fart their way out of the egg sac!

filthymindedvixen · 28/01/2007 13:35

As a preventative I use a lavendar/teatree oil hair spray for me (I work with young children ) and my ds's. Seems to work

(available all over the place now, Adsda,Waitrose etc)

grouchyoscar · 28/01/2007 13:47

Sackache...I'm afraid that regular combing is the only way. The conditioned and nit comb method work well. I found that strapping DS in his high chair seemed to help with the wriggling. Esp if your on your own. You can get to comb all the way round easily.

I spritz DS every morning with a blend of tea tree oil and witch hazel every morning before school and check him with a nit comb when he gets home.

Also speak to you LO's school/nursery and let them know your LO is getting repeatedly 'infected' DS's school are nows having a public meeting and sending letters out about head lice

It's annoying but an occupational hazard of small people.

est of luck with it

Original poster

Sackache · 28/01/2007 13:49

Combing it is then!

sigh<

Thanks all.

I've just ran the comb through my hair for 20mins and can't find anything, so I must be all clear. Will start combing the kids tonight.

OP posts:

Blandmum · 28/01/2007 13:51

and as they grow, infestation are less frequent!

I must confess that I got a strange 'pleasure' at combing the little bastards out.

But then I like squeezing zits as well

filthymindedvixen · 28/01/2007 17:03

oh yes, nit combing brings out the sadist in me too
(but I have to be careful not to verbalise the internal dialogue of ''got yer, ya little BASTARD! etc etc)

christywhisty · 28/01/2007 19:07

We have the battery operated nit busters are good, but again you have to do it every 2 or 3 days to get the little blighters as they hatch.

Original poster

Sackache · 30/01/2007 20:58

well, combed on Sunday night, then again tonight. Got alot less wee feckers than before... and they were much smaller. In fact, they might have just been eggs! Dunno, but all good so far.

dd (2) makes MUCH less fuss than my ds (5)! MEN EH!!

OP posts:

peanutbutterkid · 31/01/2007 23:16

20 minutes not enough, ime. I don't know how long is. I combed my short hair DS for 20 minutes the other night and then suddenly found a great big blighter (blech). his sister was infested which is why I persisted.

I head that soaking head in olive oil and leaving it on for days at a time is effective at killing them.

Headlice are proof that there is no God.

Did anyone hear that Bodylice are on the increase, too? They live on your clothes. Blech.

essanel · 31/01/2007 23:42

since my dd started nursery i've used tea-tree shampoo and conditioner (48p each a bottle from tesco) and use a nit comb once every 3/4 nights and major touchwood she's not had an infestation. I have to agree bribery with choc/beebies/video is the only way to go!!

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