Thread: Head lice

This afternoon I found the little beasts in my 5year old's hair. And then in mine too! Yuk yuk yuk. I popped to the chemist for some lotion and am now sat hear dripping with oily greasy hair, hoping that I have drowned them. My dd hasn't had them before so dealing with them is new to me. Do I have to keep her off school tomorrow? Should I let the school know?

Sorry if everyone reading this is itching now!

I don't think you have to keep her off school, but not sure :/ my little one has never had them either. If I were you I would contact school, as they can send a letter out telling parents to check their little ones and treat if needed. We got a letter like that last year when my little one was in nursery, was really embarassing as I was scratching my head as she handed me the letter so felt like a right fool when I then read it. Luckily we didn't have them. If you inform school I'd also tell them that you think she has got them from there.

If we spy (we cant look for them...nor would i want to) lice on a kids head and they're crawling we have to send then home but if its just the eggs we don't. Def inform the school and check before you send them in.

Usually as long as they have been treated they can go in. I think the advice is also to re treat after a week or so to catch the ones that were still in the eggs on the first go. Gone all itchy reading this!

Leave conditioner in over night and they will slide off tomorrow! They hate tea tree too! I would keep her off if you can . Good luck x

I wouldn't keep her off - hope you haven't!

Just treat and let the school know so they can inform other parents.

Nobody's going to die! x

Depends on the school and how bad they are. some schools do send them home.

Yep I'm scratching my head now I don't see any reason why she should be kept of school, she isn't ill. As previously said, I'd re-do again after 1 wk, but I'd kept doing it until you are sure they've gone. You now have to consider other children who will have it & pass it on, they'll pass it on & then the ones who got them initially are re-infected by those who've only just got them. Nightmare, my daughter just couldn't get rid of them when she went to the creche (many years ago), I got them as well which was awful as I've got thick curly hair.

Instead of paying for over the counter treatment go to the doctors & get it free

Thank goodness those days are over.

Thanks for your replies. I washed her hair this morning, to wash out the lotion and did tea tree conditioner and another comb through. I only found a few this morning, so hope I got most of them! I will speak to the GP about getting another batch of lotion to do another lot next week. At £11 a bottle I would go broke if I needed to pay for one every week! I did sent her in and luckily was all washed and combed in time to get to school without being late. The school did send home a letter to the class so hopefully all the other parents will actually check and treat those that have it. It would be a pain to get my daughter free of them only to catch them again. That said, as I remember from my own experience of school, they did seem to come around in cycles.

Once they are gone, use the tea tree oil as a preventative measure.