question about head lice..

[ShortFuse_LPN, LPN]

My babysitter just told me that 2 of her children were sent home from school with head lice. My kids are there approx. 3 days/week. My kids also had the head check @ school but didn't have lice. My question is this....should I give them a tx just to be safe? Or not?

[karenG]

general rule round here is that wet combing is much better than using insecticides- so try that! one of our doc said it kept his clear for the 6mths he spent in the outback working with aborginal people. apparently his kids got lice on a weekly basis at school! think his wife got fed up wet combing but says it works!

Karen

[christianRN]

I'm not an expert on this, but I would say, just keep checking them and of course keep them away from the kids who do have it. The treatments can be quite toxic, so I wouldn't put them on your kiddies unless you have to. I work as a sub nurse for a local school, and I've never heard it advised to treat them preventatively. Best wishes! :)

[SmilingBluEyes]

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (did I mention NO?).... do NOT tx prophylactically for lice w/insecticides. These powerful chemicals are NEVER to be taken lightly. If it makes you feel better, use a nit comb to check for lice and remove nits.......I learned the hard way, lice are only erradicated on a kid when ALL NITS ARE GONE GONE GONE...no insecticide does this for you. Only dilligent work and time will help. The reason I say NO meds is cause some of them are known to cause in extreme cases SEIZURES....they ARE toxic....so.......do not use in absence of lice or w/o a dr's advice.

My son just had the critters himself 3 weeks ago. Took lots of washing, drying and nit combing to be rid of them, but good news is, my daughter (who has waist length hair) DID NOT GET THEM and neither did my husband and I Thank Heavens! They are not as contagious as we think in that they do NOT have wings, don't JUMP from head to head, as many believe. They are passed by DIRECT contact only.

If your kids get them, follow a ped's advice concerning the use of insecticides and be careful to wash and DRY thoroughly all articles such as bed linens, coats, clothes, hats, pillows. Hot dryers will kill lice and rid you of nits. I also read any brushes you suspect may have been used on a kid w/lice can be cleaned in water that is greater than 130 degrees....I would just throw em away and start over myself. But it takes common sense and NOT panicking to handle these critters. Try not to worry in the meantime.

[sjoe]

Smiling--good advice as usual. (Oh, and did she mention that these are TOXIC chemicals, not to be used casually or when not needed?)