Head lice in child's class

[BFPDec21]

Had a message home about an outbreak in child's class. Briefly checked DD's hair as I saw it whilst she was asleep, went through the roots, behind the ears and nape and could see nothing. Going to treat it before school but wondered if the school specifically tell me if they saw something in my child's hair? For example, if my child was the 'origin'?

My DD has been getting in with us due to nightmares recently and I'm starting to itch myself thinking about it!

We normally get these messages when school has been informed of a case by parents. I would think they are likely to tell you if they had spotted something in your child's hair so you knew to treat.

Totally your choice but I wouldn't treat if no signs of lice.

My DS has had lice twice and I've not caught them either time, despite sharing a hairbrush before I realised so fingers crossed you're ok!

What do you mean by treat?
You could wet comb with conditioner and a nit comb to see if she has them.

I don’t think you can Miss head lice if there are any.

Preventive measures:

1. Plaits if possible
2. Hairspray everyday

No need to treat until you see the little fuckers.

Saw it? As in just one? The letter will have gone to everyone. My dd has had them twice since Sept! How is it still a thing?!

Please dont treat unless you see any evidence. These letters get given out all the time. The school informs the infested childs family and gives everyone else a letter.

You don't need to treat it if she doesn't have any. If you have any peppermint oil splash a drop or two on her collar tomorrow. Apparently keeps them away.

Get a bit comb and give it a good going over, make sure you check the comb regularly, use lots of conditioner and that you methodically go over every bit of their head by sectioning it out and taking your time. If yo7 find any lice then your options are:

• continue with the conditioner and combing every day for 3 days then every 3 days thereafter for a couple of weeks to pick up any newly hatched stragglers.
• treat with a product like he'd run, you usually have to do it once, then again a few days/1 week later to catch any newly hatched ones.

You can try things like lice repellent but I'm not convinced they're that good. Best bet is to keep their hair away from other kids hair. Unfortunately it's likely that someone in the class will have them and won't treat diligently in which case they can pass back and forth for a while.

Don't treat if you can't actually see any. You can usually find them behind the ears if they're there. Tie her hair back if possible though as it'll make it a bit harder to catch them.

If you haven't already, get a Nitty Gritty comb.

When the dreaded lice letters come (as they will, from time to time during the primary years) you can then slather your DC in conditioner and steadily comb through, wiping comb on something white between strokes and looking for critters. If you find them, then treat - either with the pesticide type treatment (bear in mind some are resistant) or a smothering type treatment, or by conditioner/combing (which you will need to repeat every couple of days for at least 3weeks as you have to cover the full life cycle)

The letter will definitely be because a family has informed the school. No-one is looking for lice.

And yes, is impossible to chat about headlice without itching/scratching!

Definitely don’t treat unless you actually find headlice.
Don’t panic, you are likely to get lots of these letters over the next 7 years or so.
The letter will have gone out because they have been informed of a case in class by a parent. Not because they spotted a louse on a child’s head.

Meant to add we’ve had the message home at least 12 times now between 2 children at school, no headlice as yet!

Ah thank you! I was going to use some Hedrin Protect & Go to treat it as long as there was nothing there. I've put it up today until I can get a good look with conditioner and a comb tonight as suggested.

Just keep a close look out on the situation and do all the preventative measures: tea tree conditioner, plaited hair and hairspray everyday.

If the infestations get really bad, then from experience I recommend daily checks, straightening her hair to burn them, lots of tea tree conditioner left overnight, an electric comb comb and always plaited hair with hair spray.