New Head Lice Data - OldDude Institute for Head Lice Studies

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So I get a parent request to check her daughter's hair for head lice; said she doesn't know what to look for but her daughter said her head was itching - and she has big, thick, hair. I was just getting ready to call it as clear and I spied a louse fleeing from the inspection area. I grabbed the trespasser and placed it on a legal pad I had on my desk; to observe for scientific purposes. At first the louse would scurry about but would stop at the edge of the legal pad so I was leaning toward stating louse had depth perception and would avoid vertical surfaces. But eventually the louse did climb over the edge and onto my desk. Which led to my new head lice data. I scooped the louse from my desk back onto the legal pad and noticed it had landed on it's back; it's little legs flailing in the air. This went on for 10 minutes until I flipped the louse over and it returned to scurrying about on the legal pad. I again flipped it back over onto its back and, again, legs flailing but no luck in turning itself over. So the new scientific data is head lice is in the ranks of the turtle. They cannot right themselves if on their back without assistance or if they are on a slick flat surface with nothing to grab onto. Mark your calendar, you heard it first right here on AN...OldDude Institute of Head Lice Studies.

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
Thank you Sully! I was dying to ask this!!

No, I stuck it on a piece of clear tape so mom would know what to look for. She didn't even want to touch it after it was encased in the tape.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

So when I called mom and told her the news, we talked about treatment, prevention, etc, mom says, "I'm on my way to pick her up!" I told her it was OK for her to be at school, kids aren't excluded from school anymore for head lice, and she could treat her after she came home from school. She said, "OH no, that's gross, I'm coming to get her now!" So she picked the girl up, took her home, treated her hair, and brought her back to school. No finger pointing, no accusations, no whining...I enjoy dealing with parents like that.

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This made my day.

Science.

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So when I called mom and told her the news, we talked about treatment, prevention, etc, mom says, "I'm on my way to pick her up!" I told her it was OK for her to be at school, kids aren't excluded from school anymore for head lice, and she could treat her after she came home from school. She said, "OH no, that's gross, I'm coming to get her now!" So she picked the girl up, took her home, treated her hair, and brought her back to school. No finger pointing, no accusations, no whining...I enjoy dealing with parents like that.

This mom should get an award!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I'm not someone who freaks out over lice, but after a particularly intense case earlier today and then reading this, every time the A/C blows some hair and makes the top of my head itch I am mentally fighting a freak-out battle.

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I'm not someone who freaks out over lice, but after a particularly intense case earlier today and then reading this, every time the A/C blows some hair and makes the top of my head itch I am mentally fighting a freak-out battle.

Any chance your name is a reference to the Lumineers song which is now stuck in my head?

-"You told me I was like the Dead Sea, you'll never sink when you are with me"

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Any chance your name is a reference to the Lumineers song which is now stuck in my head?

-"You told me I was like the Dead Sea, you'll never sink when you are with me"

Love them.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Yep! Big fan :)

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

Louse-y information is what we expect from the venerated Old Dude Institute of Head Lice Studies!

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I would just to like to add that OldDude's observation have been independently tested and verified today. Lice appear entirely unable to right themselves once upside down. This was verified with 9 subjects, who are now in a baggie pinned to my bulletin board, living out what hours they have left.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I would just to like to add that OldDude's observation have been independently tested and verified today. Lice appear entirely unable to right themselves once upside down. This was verified with 9 subjects, who are now in a baggie pinned to my bulletin board, living out what hours they have left.

So I guess I'll share the millions of federal grant dollars for this study with you. I'm saying 50% of the test subjects will be dead before you go home tomorrow.

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
So I guess I'll share the millions of federal grant dollars for this study with you. I'm saying 50% of the test subjects will be dead before you go home tomorrow.

What kind of odds are you offering?

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