How to tell people your child got lice

Published

This is not something I would have thought about before becoming a nursing student and it's cultural competence. So there's a little Burmese girl that my daughter plays with and her parents are first generation here and hardly speak English.

I just found out the other day that my daughter has picked up head lice, I'm not sure where she picked it up, it could've been from ANYWHERE. She's been to summer camp, with friends, and we've gone in vacation. I've told everyone we have been around in the last few weeks and they are all clear so far. The only people I haven't told is the Burmese family. Is there a certain way I should approach them or do I just come out with it? I know it needs to be told just incase she does have them, either being the one who gave them to my daughter or possibly my daughter spreading them to her. Honestly I won't feel comfortable with them playing until the little girl is cleared. My worry is that they will view this horribly and not allow the kids to play anymore. Maybe I'm overreacting but I'm not really sure of their cultural view on this topic, or even if there is a "cultural view" about it. Any advice?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

People are people. You said you have told everyone but the Burmese family. I'm sure there were other families with backgrounds different from your own. Honestly not trying to be rude here, but that is not cultural competence. That's racism. Tell them as you would anyone else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Maybe you're taking what I said out of context here, I'm not being racist, and if you think I am I'm sorry for that. But people do view things like this quite differently. Even the people I have told, some say oh don't feel bad it happens other say eww that's nasty. The difference is all of these people know me and know I'm not a dirty person. The difference with the Burmese people is that they don't know me we are just neighbors and our kids play together outside. My whole point here is I don't know how they are going to react to me telling them...i don't want them to think I'm a dirty person and not let the kids play together anymore. If anything I'm being selfish/insecure that they are going to think I'm a dirty person when it's so far from the truth.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm sorry. I really don't mean to sound nasty. I do get what you are saying, but I think, like you say, you need to let them know. Just like any other family, they will think what they think. Ironically a little known fact about lice- people who keep their hair cleaner are more likely to get it. Something about greasy hair that lice can't climb aboard as easily lol. Hope that makes you feel better :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Maybe you're taking what I said out of context here, I'm not being racist, and if you think I am I'm sorry for that. But people do view things like this quite differently. Even the people I have told, some say oh don't feel bad it happens other say eww that's nasty. The difference is all of these people know me and know I'm not a dirty person. The difference with the Burmese people is that they don't know me we are just neighbors and our kids play together outside. My whole point here is I don't know how they are going to react to me telling them...i don't want them to think I'm a dirty person and not let the kids play together anymore. If anything I'm being selfish/insecure that they are going to think I'm a dirty person when it's so far from the truth.
I hear what you are saying...culturally you don not know how they may or not react. However if every other place and person you have told is clear...it could very well be that your daughter was exposed there playing.

I appreciate you trying to be sensitive but you are going to have to bite the bullet here.

Explain that your daughter has been exposed to and has lice. Explain what lice is and what itis not...explain how it is transmitted. That as a medical person you need to explain that it isn't from people being dirty but she may have picked it up at camp....offer to check their child...or have your child's pediatrician call them.

But they need to be told

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd just tell them. My daughter was a lice magnet one year in school (long curly fine blonde hair that we washed daily.......perfect target!) and I had to notify a ton of people repeatedly that year. Lice really do favor clean hair because they can adhere to the hair shaft better when the hair is clean.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm sorry. I really don't mean to sound nasty. I do get what you are saying, but I think, like you say, you need to let them know. Just like any other family, they will think what they think. Ironically a little known fact about lice- people who keep their hair cleaner are more likely to get it. Something about greasy hair that lice can't climb aboard as easily lol. Hope that makes you feel better :)

I do know that lice doesn't come from being dirty, but like you said it's a little known fact and I'm not sure if they know that or not..best thing I can do educate them to the best of my ability. I guess I can use it as my first experience with a language barrier.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I hear what you are saying...culturally you don not know how they may or not react. However if every other place and person you have told is clear...it could very well be that your daughter was exposed there playing.

I appreciate you trying to be sensitive but you are going to have to bite the bullet here.

Explain that your daughter has been exposed to and has lice. Explain what lice is and what itis not...explain how it is transmitted. That as a medical person you need to explain that it isn't from people being dirty but she may have picked it up at camp....offer to check their child...or have your child's pediatrician call them.

But they need to be told

I know I will have to bite the bullet, not trying to get out of it in anyway. I wouldn't feel comfortable with them playing until the little girl is cleared. It's just so hard to tell people you don't know about this type of thing because of the stigma people place on it. Best thing I can do is like you said and try to educate them....even though I'm not a nurse yet I am a CNA so I guess I can use that to my advantage to show them I "know" what I'm talking about if it comes to that..

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It is quite possible that the concepts related to head lice transmission is known to the Burmese already. :) It's not rocket science.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

They might be wondering how to tell you the same thing. :)

You never know until you reach out. It's kind of a case of ...."it is what it is". Best of Luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well we (my husband and I) went to tell them. We spoke to the father because he knows the most English. We explained my daughter got lice but we didn't know from who, but since our kids play he should check his daughter as well to avoid passing it back and forth. I offered to check for her if he needed me to, he said thanks but I'll check her later. That was the end of discussion. Now I usually see her outside this time of day and she's not outside so I'm guessing either he checked her and she has it or it's just an off day and they are out somewhere. Guess I'll know soon enough

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I'm pretty sure they know what lice is you did the right thing....((HUGS))

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion