Head Lice

[Cookingmonster]

I have posted here as I want some advice please!

My DS has a friend at school who has had head lice fairly consistently for over a year! The teachers have talked to the mum, the school nurse has talked to her and even combed the sons hair and the headteacher has talked to her recommending treatments and a crew cut.

I help her out by taking care of her son occasionally when she needs it but every time I do, we get head lice in the house. I thought she was treating it but have only found out the she can't deal with the tantrums from him when she tries so she doesn't do anything! In the past I have given her shampoo and treatments and the school have provided nit combs. I have gone from being sympathetic to being livid at the situation.

My question is, "What now?" Can anything else be done? I would be surprised if we have gone a week in the last year with no head lice in the class!

TIA

Well, you could offer to de-nit him yourself with hedrin spray on stuff. Invite him round for a film and nice food...only available if he lets you de-louse his head.

Or you could tell the mother you won't ever have her DS in your care again as he is so nitty. (probably won't make much difference, as your child could still get nits at school, excpet to jolt her into action)

I have offered to do it but I just get a non committal answer. I've even offered to do the crew cut! and tie him to a chair until there is no lice left

I have just texted her telling her he is not allowed here unless he has been treated. I was hoping there was some way of ensuring she does it. Is it some sort of child health issue?

No, it's some sort of non-bothered parent issue.

You will get the odd parent of an SN child telling you it is really tricky as their child won't sit still.

Hedrin Once, sprayed on. Washed off. Crew cut not necessary.

My Aspergers DS has always been happy for me to comb through his hair for hours, when even though he would cry at the hairdressers.

I think you've done the right thing by saying he can't come around unless treated.

If it is that bad surely the mum of this child must also have them plus others in the family. You are right to be firm as it is unfair to knowingly spread headlice and not be bothered about it.

Angi, please explain yourself before I report your post.

I have a child with ongoing nits. I was treating it with the stuff every fortnight but cannot afford to do that any more. I was also combing for around an hour 3 times a week but don't have the time to make it an ongoing lifestyle.

It never worked, or at least it did for a week or so at a time but it's been going on since first day back and my child's teacher told me to just wait until juniors.

I've done vinegar and hairspray and tea tree oil. It controls it, but never so I can say she's 'cured'.

But you can't just let it be Starlight, I know it's a real pain to keep combing but even for your DDs own health you've got to persist. It can't be very nice to be scratching all the time.

I dunno. A few times I've just asked her whether she wants the stuff, an hour of combing or two days of scratching. She almost always prefers the scratching. At first she thought they were disgusting but now she's unfazed.

You need to not have this boy around your house unless your friend treats. Head lice are a pain and why should you have to fork out £££ for Hedrin for your kids because she can't be arsed? I get at parents who won't comb preventively or treat when lice are found, they cost me money and cause my DDs to be miserable. It isn't acceptable.

Starlight, I am very sympathetic to you as it must be horrible for you and your DD. I was just as sympathetic to this kids mum. I have given her shampoo and treatments that have worked for our family but she has just told me what she has actually doing- Nothing! I was assuming that she was having trouble getting rid of them with treatments but no! She has been doing nothing!

I find this totally unacceptable and was hoping that we could actually have a health professional come to visit her or something. I even thought about getting him professionally treated but I don't think it's worth the expense as if they came back, they probably wouldn't get treated again. Any ideas?

I agree it is unacceptable not to TRY. I've been trying for months. And even now whilst I have given up on getting rid I still go through the process regularly.

I think I just assume now that there must be someone like your friends Ds in her class and that the problem won't go away. I also know that she is very tactile so it's also technically possible that she picks them up from different people but is exceptionally prone.

The worst thing about it is for me, because I often get them off her and I am allergic.

I don't think that is true tiggy. Nits are no longer considered a health issue. They were once. Not now.

An untreated infestation is neglect! Nitty Gritty comb is the best one to buy and it works on really fine hair too.

It doesn't work for the eggs on my dd's hair, nor my babies. You have to theirs with a torch, a magnifying glass and fingernails.

Top tip to keep the cost down, if you can show an actual louse at the doctors (sellatape to a bit of cardboard) they will prescribe treatment. Cost really mounts up if you have to keep paying.

Deliberately untreated lice is a child protection issue, I'd be very surprised if the school weren't logging it.

I know a fair amount about CP and there is no way you'll have a visit about head lice. You'd be lucky to get a visit if you were keeping child slaves.

I can't make a gp appointment every week. Sure they'll tell me to get lost.

That's pretty much what we do. Including the detailed inspections and the 'shit we lost one, where'd it go?', though I do one or two less thorough in-between combs during the week with just wet hair.

Any tips for clearing your own? DH refuses - ! I'm sure I'm clearing one child and then giving them straight to the other one. Then I'm terrified that my children are both 'that child' and I am 'that' mother.

In the mean time I'm absolutely positive they're in my hair but all I'm pulling out with the nitty gritty is my own hair.

I tie mind into lots of pigtails and do them one at a time. At the end I comb through loads.

If you put vinegar all over your scalp before you wash your hair any eggs become unstuck.

When I'm doing it I itch everywhere so it is possible you're imagining it.

They don't like hair products much so they can help prevent.

The vinegar tip could be useful for the dcs as well, thanks! They are pretty sticky those eggs aren't they? I am keeping several retailers afloat with cheap conditioner sales.

A great tip on the dcs was the 'daylight' craft lamp with magnifier. Very satisfying to see the pesky things.

Tbh we could all do with haircuts. This side of Christmas would be nice!

You'll smell like a chip shop.

Anyway, you can SEE I'm trying. Just can't seem to completely get rid. Probably need to take her whole class to the swimming baths and scrub them.