New Head Lice Treatment......

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2016

Just wondering if anyone has had episodes of parents coloring their students' hair (yes, even in elementary level) to get rid of (or cover up) lice/nits?
I called a male student to preform h/v screening to my office and he informed me that his mom had colored his younger siblings hair the night before because of lice. He then began to tell me how mom had checked him and he was fine, but he was going to get his hair cut short so he would not get them. He said that was how they treated for lice.
I have helped out at our 1-5 grade campus and have had to do head checks and thought some of those babies' hair had looked a shade or two off.
Just crazy....(IMO)

Yep. I've had this done instead of using the lice treatment that school provided (that I went out and bought). Student's hair was a different color, sure, but still full of live lice. Student was sent home every day for over a week before the lice shampoo was finally used, but finally no live lice.

BeckyESRN · Oct 11, 2016

I haven't heard of that, but I did read an article the other day that said some parents are using dog/cat flea prevention to "prevent" lice.

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2016

Yep. I've had this done instead of using the lice treatment that school provided (that I went out and bought). Student's hair was a different color, sure, but still full of live lice. Student was sent home every day for over a week before the lice shampoo was finally used, but finally no live lice.

Good to know. I've heard some people swearing by the hair dye method.

Cattz, ADN · Oct 11, 2016

I haven't heard of that, but I did read an article the other day that said some parents are using dog/cat flea prevention to "prevent" lice.

OH yes. Heard that many times. This is why we continue to do what we do, day in and day out. Educate, Educate, Educate :) Of course, the last parent to tell me that, was the one that explained to me that the "lice" had jumped 50 feet, Soooo, since I had already learned from her and the kiddo that they have animals in the house, pretty sure it was fleas they were seeing anyway....not lice. But still, it IS dog shampoo for crying in a bucket!!!! :woot:

coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2016

Happened to a high school student once. Mom dyed and cut off chunks of her hair. Major miss-education. I mean we all have teachers who have Bachelors/Masters/Doctorates that still believe lice can jump.

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Oct 11, 2016

New shirt: "Lice (like white men) Can't Jump.

Give it to all the teachers for Teacher's Appreciation Week.

djh123 · Oct 12, 2016

Crazy. But let me throw a little FYI item out there re: lice and OTC treatments. A cousin of my ex was a school teacher and got lice from one of her students. She bought an OTC shampoo with specific (obviously) instructions as to how much to use and how often. But she was so freaked out about the lice that she did it too often and/or used too much. I forget the details, because this was several years ago, but it started affecting her MIND, at least temporarily. So if you are using anything like this, or have kids who have lice and are recommending anything to a parent, please tell them to not overdo it!

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2016

Crazy. But let me throw a little FYI item out there re: lice and OTC treatments. A cousin of my ex was a school teacher and got lice from one of her students. She bought an OTC shampoo with specific (obviously) instructions as to how much to use and how often. But she was so freaked out about the lice that she did it too often and/or used too much. I forget the details, because this was several years ago, but it started affecting her MIND, at least temporarily. So if you are using anything like this, or have kids who have lice and are recommending anything to a parent, please tell them to not overdo it!

There is a warning about overusing or leaving the product on for too long on the box. It can be toxic if not used properly.

But, unfortunately, the fact that your friend was spooked enough to overdo it several years ago, well, that stigma with lice hasn't changed. Despite the fact that they don't carry disease and are just plain annoying more than anything. We continue to work to change that...

BirkieGirl · Oct 12, 2016

yes sadly there are still a LOT of misconceptions out there. I am not in school nursing but I'm a supervisor and staff ask me a lot about head lice. One thing that I stress to them a LOT is the appropriate cleaning of car and car seats. That seems to be one area that EVERYBODY misses, and a common area for re-infestation. they sell the spray for upholstery right next to the shampoo people!!!

On a positive note- I was in a chain pharmacy the other day and saw that they now carry the electronic comb (similar to ROBI) that zaps the live lice and combs out nits. seems to sound pretty effective from what I've read online. Something like $22. just FYI...

BeckyESRN · Oct 12, 2016

yes sadly there are still a LOT of misconceptions out there. I am not in school nursing but I'm a supervisor and staff ask me a lot about head lice. One thing that I stress to them a LOT is the appropriate cleaning of car and car seats. That seems to be one area that EVERYBODY misses, and a common area for re-infestation. they sell the spray for upholstery right next to the shampoo people!!!
On a positive note- I was in a chain pharmacy the other day and saw that they now carry the electronic comb (similar to ROBI) that zaps the live lice and combs out nits. seems to sound pretty effective from what I've read online. Something like $22. just FYI...

Actually, cars and corificeats should not be a problem. Lice cannot live off of the head for more than 24hours (generally they survive for much shorter a period of time). A bag over the seat for 24 hours or a single cycle in a hot dryer would be considerably more effective than spray. Most experts agree that the chance of infestation from an inanimate object is slim to none; head to head contact is really the only risk.

Cattz, ADN · Oct 12, 2016

Please pass this website along to anyone with misconceptions. This will help with continuing the education side of it. Using those toxic sprays is no longer recommended because they don't live very long off a human head. Dr. Pollack and his info. have been my go-to for years. His website is IdentifyUS

This article too, is amazing. https://www.pediatricnursing.net/ce/2016/article4005226235.pdf by Deborah J. Pontius.

Happy Wednesday everyone!