I found out last night that my dd has lice. I think I had them once when I was pretty young but I don't remember what my mom did to get rid of them. I've washed her hair with the lice shampoo and checked everyone else's hair. I don't trust my dh to have checked my hair well enough so I treated it today, just to be safe. I'm washing all of our bedding and clothing in hot water and bagging up all her stuffed animals for a while. I vacuumed the whole house and dumped the canister outside and then washed it out. I know I have to retreat her in 7-10 days to make sure she's clear. I kept her out of school today and talked to the little girl's mom that I think she got them from. Do I have to tell the school why I kept her home today or can I just send her back when I know that there aren't any eggs on her hair? She's old enough to be totally humiliated by this, even though I haven't let her know how much this whole thing skeeves me out. We talked about not sharing hats, brushes and hair accessories with her friends. Is there anything else I can do to make sure this doesn't happen again or am I not doing something I should be? I really really really hate that this happened!!!

By Tripletmom on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 01:00 pm:

Never treat anybody who doesn't have live bugs.It will not do anything.My DD had lice 4yrs ago and it grossed me out also.I didnt end up getting them but boy did I feel itchy everytime I thought about it.Every night just comb(or fingernails) to remove the eggs.If you can get all the eggs you might not have to re-treat.Lice goes through a cycle but I dont remember.You're pharmacy where you got the shampoo might have some info or look up on the internet.I'd advize the school so it doesnt come back at you're DD.Getting lice happens to anyone it doesnt mean you're dirty.I now spray my DD hair with a little hairspray everyday and hopefully that would prevent them from going to her.Her school has sent home 3 notices since Sept of lice being in her class and so far we've been lucky.I found when I removed eggs from my DD hair I wet it added a lot of conditioner and it seemed easier to remove them.GOOD LUCK (((HUGS)))

By Tripletmom on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 01:05 pm:

BTW-Make sure you spray where her head rests in the car.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 01:34 pm:

(((HUGS))) You should inform the school so they can take precautions to prevent a full blown break out. Most likely they will send a notice home to warn parents to keep a look out for lice and nits but they will not point any fingers. If you don't notify the school your child could be re-infested when she returns. Yes, lice is gross but anyone can get it and I'm sure the school has dealt with it before. More {{{HUGS}}}.

By Bellajoe on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 02:38 pm:

Yes, tell the school.

My dd's school had lice in several different class rooms this year. IT seemed like several kids went home everyday because of lice. My dd's class had to put their coats and book bags in plastic bags so the lice didn't go home with them, i guess. There was one little girl who missed about a month of school because they could not get rid of it. LUckily my dd never got it.

Some parents pick their kids up now, because the kids are little enogh that their heads still rest on the seats on the bus...where lice could be.

It makes me all itchy everytime i think about it.

By Marcia on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 03:00 pm:

My kids have all had it, and I got it from them. It's a pain in the butt, but nothing to be embarrassed about. It's typically the kids with clean hair that get it, so it's certainly not a sign of dirtiness.
The best tool you can get is a good lice comb. We bought one for about $25, and it removed the nits even. This is it....
http://www.naturalginesis.com/id56.htm

Good luck!

By Brandy on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 03:02 pm:

Yes tell the school also they will probably want to check her hair before they allow her to come back at least that's what they have done with us.It is embarrasing but you are taking care of the problem.. = )

By Karen~moderator on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 03:23 pm:

Ditto everyone else. Nothing to be embarrassed about - we have certainly BTDT! And YES, it *does* gross you out!

By Crystal915 on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 03:31 pm:

((((hugs)))) It's gross, but ditto everyone else, it happens to everyone.

By Colette on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 03:53 pm:

Tell the school. Also after you get rid of them a little tea tree oil in her hair is supposed to keep them away. My dd's 1st grade class was infested with them and the nurse told me to try the oil, she was one of just a couple of kids that never got them. Just a couple of drops on your hand and smooth it over her hair.

By Conni on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 05:19 pm:

This is how I felt last year when Blake had ringworm that we could NOT get rid of. It was very embarrassing and got to the point that I was questioning if it was even ringworm it went on so long. Finally went to a dermatologist and found out it would never go away with the cream because it was on his head and for that you have to take an oral medication. Oh it was awful and I was freaked out about hugging my poor child for months. lol

My sisters kids have had lice and I know it was a pretty miserable ordeal for them. Alot of times it is girls with longer hair that will get it. We havent had lice *yet*- but there's still time! lol I dread the day.

((((BIG HUGS!!!))))

By Happynerdmom on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 05:24 pm:

Yes, it is gross, isn't it? BTDT. Ditto on getting a good metal lice comb. (((hugs)))

By Cocoabutter on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 06:38 pm:

You are doing everything you possibly can do. You are going to just have to wait and see if you got it all.

Haven't had experience with lice, but have had it with scabies. It's similar, but scabies go under the skin and REALLY make you itch.

You do need to call the school- they have a right to know so that they can help avoid other kids from getting it, too. My son's school has sent home notices that say that there has been a case of lice in my son's classroom, but they do NOT name any names. If they have to inspect your dd's head in the morning when she goes back, they should be able to do it in private.

I used to do daycare, and we got scabies from a boy who I babysat. His mom had them on her, too. She broke down in tears and cried b/c she was so ashamed to admit that she had *SCABIES!*

I told her that it is absolutely NO PROBLEM and that it is in NO WAY reflecting on her or the sanitary condition of her home. I had scabies once when I was a kid- got it at the theater from the seat cushion.

Anyone who knows you or your dd probably knows that you are doing everything in your power to clean up this mess. If you weren't- then we'd wonder!

By Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 06:46 pm:

Thanks everyone. I did get a decent metal comb. I read that the plastic ones aren't worth a darn. Luckily, she doesn't seem to have a bad case and if she got them where I think she did, she's only had them for a little while. The school called and threw a fit that she had been out at all this week (state testing, don't you know?) so I did tell them why she was gone and they said she can make up any time when she comes back. Colette, I've read the tea tree oil tip a few times now so I'll definitely be using that to try to keep them away. I rechecked her this evening and there aren't any new nits so I'm hoping this was a simple case. I know I'll be compulsively checking her for a long time. Thanks to all of you for being so supportive and I don't blame you for itching while reading this. I can't get rid of the creepy-crawly feeling. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

By Dawnk777 on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 07:12 pm:

Sarah and I had them once. I think she got them first and then I got them, since she was only 2. I called the baby sitter to tell her that Sarah had them, and then she said she forgot to tell me. Well, gee thanks. She is the person who watched Sarah on weekends, when we lived in Marshfield, since DH and I both had weekend hours.

No matter now, since it was a long time ago. I was pregnant with Emily, so my doctor had to find out something I could take, since I couldn't use kwell. We ended up using Nix. It was a LOT of work to clean up after it, though. It sounds like you have covered all your bases, though.

By Marcia on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 08:50 pm:

A more important reason for telling the school is that if she has it, chances are other kids in the class do too. Just because you found it first doesn't mean she's the one who had it first in the class. All of the parents should be checking, to avoid any further outbreaks.