I have had a unique experience with head lice and have some questions that other parents can maybe help with?

Question

My son brought home head lice last Wed. We treated it with OTC meds on both Wed. and again on Thurs. We also treated everyone in the house. He was clean by Fri and allowed back in school. Both Sun and Mon, he had some hatchlings, which I wet combed out..and again he was allowed back in school. However, last night I phoned the doc and got some prescription lice killer...and this morning he was clean. This afternoon, I found two dead babies on him. Any ideas? Do you think the prescription drug is working? Any other ideas. My other question is that nobody else in the house has these little critters. Is it possible that Ive kept it contained well enough, or maybe Im missing them? Please help! I just want to get this over with...

Answer 1

Don't you just love having schoolkids? Yes, more than likely the medication is working, which is why you found two dead ones. The little buggers are really hard to get out of fine hair, and the eggs can be dead and still cemented on to the hair shafts. To be on the safe side, get anything associated with his head- the hats, caps, pillow case, stuffed animal, jacket with hood, comb and brush, and boil them or bake them in the dryer. I have six kids, and we have had our share of these assaults. For what it's worth, lice actually prefer a nice clean head of hair to live in- they really don't like dirty hair. I used to just sacrifice the girls hair brushes to the bin, rather than try to pry out all the hair and clean them. The combs can get microwaved, as well as anything that can't be dryed in a dryer- like a small stuffed animal. That pretty well eliminates the nits. The real trouble isn't what you do, it's the undetected kids that yours are meeting up with at school. If they have gotten rampant at the school, then you have a real fight on your hands. I used to clip the boys heads short and braid the girls hair up and clip it in the back, so it would not hang loose anywhere. Then if they put heads together with a child who has them, it's less likely to be able to get in. The rest of the family isn't likely to catch them, if you catch it quickly enough it's usually only a sibling they share a room with who is a concern. Otherwise they really do need to get head to head. So you can just have one child with them to deal with. Re-infections are coming from outside the home, most likely. Check you child at the nape of the neck, that's where they really like to go first for some reason. If you pull a couple strands of hair between your fingernails, you will dislodge an egg or two, and that's your cue to shampoo. Once usually does the trick, and what you find in the next days should all be dead. After that, it's come back from another child at school. If that's a problem, you need to raise a ruckus at the school for them to notify parents and pay closed heed to the children. Perhaps even have a nurse come inspect all the children at once. Otherwise, you fight a battle all year long. Just don't despair. It happens to lots of us, and it's no reflection on you. I have also discovered the OTC stuff works just as good as the prescription stuff, and at a lower cost as well. Good luck with the battle, it sounds like you won this round.

Answer 2

After using the medicine you need a special comb to comb out the "nits" at the base of the neck. Those are the packs of eggs. They are really hard to see, but if you don't get them out you will keep having this problem. Some shampoo kits at the stores have a comb with them, or call your doctor. A regular comb won't work, it isn't fine enough to pull them out. You also need to wash all bedding, pillows, stuffed animals, clothing etc...

Answer 3

i am only 19 years old but i have had my fair share of experience with this. I had head lice off and on for 3 YEARS...yes years...we treated me and my family constantly...we tried everything that you can buy...we totally cleaned the house, my room, and eventaully got a new matress because it wouldnt go away...it has finally stopped coming back but we still treat my hair every once in a while...my parents and brother NEVER had it...I was the only one in my house that ever had a problem with it...now we use mayonaisse....it sound weird...but it is supposed to suffocate the lice and make it easier for them to comb out...if you cant get it to go away...put a cheap brand of mayonaisse all over his hair and scalp and let it sit for about a half hour...then put water on it...lather...and then wash it out with shampoo and comb it out while it is wet...also...wash all of his blankets, pillows, etc...or just put them in the dryer for about 45 minutes and it will kill any that are on there...this includes any living room blankets, or any of his clothes that have been left out...i know it sounds weird but i have experience...hope it helps...good luck.

Answer 4

My daughter had these really bad in kindergarten. The prescription stuff will work but you need to wash all blankets,sheets pillows,hats, anything that he has come in contact with. After I done that, I treated everyones heads again and they never come back. It takes work, but you can get rid of the nasty little things.