The Dreaded Phone Call......Your Child has Lice!
For thousands of people in the USA each year, receiving a call like this is a reality. Typically, the school nurse checks all the little heads coming back to school after a long, carefree summer.
Once she/he finds lice, all the parents must be notified, "Ah, Mrs. Frotutus, your child has..............pediculosis!"
Every parent is struck with horror at the thought that their clean, innocent, well-groomed, well-mannered child might have picked up lice from one of those other, ahem, not so clean children.
When they find that their child has indeed become a host to these pesky pests, they panic!
What many people don't know is that lice are more inclined to make their home on a clean head than a dirty one. They care not a whit about the race, religion or socio-economic status of their host. All they want is a warm meal three or four times a day.
Lice do not jump, burrow or fly. They do not live on animals or on any part of the human other than their head. Once off the human head, lice can only live from 24-48 hours.
Head lice do not carry disease.
Adults lay up to eight eggs a day. These eggs develop into nymphs who grow up within a week to begin laying their own eggs. Therefore, early detection and treatment is quite smart.
While OTC treatments can be effective, lice are becoming more resistant to the toxic ingredients in these products. The Harvard School of Public Health sates that, "Head lice in the United States are resistant to Permethrin and Lindane."
Applying these pesticides may not kill the lice and their eggs. Yet, according to the National Pediculosis Association, "Seizures, behavioral changes, Attention Deficit Disorders, cancer, skin diseases and even death have been reported to the National Pediculosis Association's registry by people who have used chemical treatments(such as RID and NIX) to get rid of head lice or scabies." They advise parents to discontinue the use of head lice pesticides, citing "manual removal" as the best option.
There is much more I could tell you about this fascinating subject, but if you would be interested in learning more or having one of our technicians come into your home to do a thorough treatment using safe, non-toxic products along with manual removal, just give us a shout!
Mary Anne Looby
10:13 am on Monday, August 27, 2012
Your titile made me laugh out loud! I lived this horror many, many years ago. My daughter (now 32) had the most georgeous long cury hair, It had never been cut and she was in first grade. My Mom lived across the street from our school, so she was the go to person if they could not reach me (cell phones did not exist). Need less to say, I got a call from my Mom telling me that my daughter was at her house. Here is where it starts to get crazy- my Mom always prefaced trouble with "now don't get upset". Magic words that told me to start getting upset! She told me the school had called and my beautiful little girl had lice! I really wasn't sure what lice were but I new it was not nice. I immeditalty called my pediatrician. By the time he came on the line I was beyond hysterical. I could barely say the words but and finally the good doc said do you have any liquor in the house(I knew he would have an answer to get rid of the critters). I said yes, we had scotch, and he said hang up, pour yourself a stiff drink and call me back when you have calmed down!!! Needless to say, I calmed down on the phone and he told me where to go and he would call the Parmacy and have everything ready for me to pick up. My peds were Saints. What followed was more insanity, trying to rid my daughters beautiful hair was a nighmare. I never saw one lice or nit but was bound and determined that if there were any, they were facing there worst enemy. The rest of the story is just as crazy,
Mary Anne Looby
10:15 am on Monday, August 27, 2012
but suffice to say my daughter and I prevailed. Now when anything truly difficult comes up in my life, I say to myself - you lived through head lice - you can handle anything!
Mom of DnNnD
11:07 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
There is a product called Lice Shield (available at most stores) that I believe to be effective in preventing the spread of lice. We have the shampoo and the leave in spray. When we had a lice outbreak at daycare last year, mine was one of the children NOT to get it. Prevention is key.
Mom of 4
11:37 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Lice MD works great!!!