Help Lice!!! We leave for Disney tomorrow!!

[mommasita]

What happens to lice in the swimming pool? Presumably this child will swim, it is summer in Florida..Do they die in the chlorine? We have kids swimming all the time, I wonder

I want to add that I have been scratching my head all weekend since reading this thread, and went through everyone's hair 2x.. ...

School ends in 2 weeks, and I hope we make it without that this year..KNOCK KNOCK

 

[4greatboys]

I would not , and did not, buzz my kids head or mine. I have waist length hair so treating it was not an easy job but it was a doable one. I gave myself a treatment then one again about a week later. Yes it was hard combing through my hair and I did have to have help.

I just treated my boys the same and never considered buzzing anyone. Now on boys it wouldnt really be that big a deal as many boys do that anyway but I would do everything I could before I buzzed a little girls hair, or even cut of large lengths of it.

 

[Mkrop]

I have a question. If it works, why not give your girls a buzz cuts too? Why deal with waist length hair? Am I missing something? I have a DD14 with curly, thick, alost impossible to comb thru hair (did I mention it is half way down her back when dry and below her butt when wet?) If she God forbid got lice, I would give her a buzz cut ASAP.

I know the woman in the UK that was on here was worried ehr daughter would not look feminnine anymore. She was only 3 so I would cut. I dont know what I would do anout cutting if I had a school age DD, none of the girls in DS's class got there hair cut but all the boys did. Lice dont like short hair so for him, fashion was not a concern! but that is just me!

 

[mommasita]

Found my own answer, and it is

Head Lice and Swimming

It is unlikely that head lice can be spread through use of swimming pools. Lice survive by holding onto hair and are not likely to let go when someone's head goes under water. It would be rare to find lice floating in pool water. It is more likely that head lice are spread by sharing towels or other items that have been in contact with an infested person's hair. Teach your children not to share towels, hair brushes, etc., either at poolside or in the changing room. Be aware that the chlorine levels found in pools do not kill head lice.

Swimming or washing hair within 1-2 days after treating with anti-lice shampoo will make the treatment less effective.

 

[Hannathy]

Found my own answer, and it is

Head Lice and Swimming
Swimming or washing hair within 1-2 days after treating with anti-lice shampoo will make the treatment less effective.

And considering the Mom didn't even know what a nit looked like I seriously doubt she knows this. I also doubt she will tell her DD that she can't go in the pool for the first 2 days in Florida.

 

[cardaway]

It's one thing to unknowingly do this but to know and continue is just unacceptable and irresponsible.

Part of being a parent is sacrificing things at times, even vacation if necessary.

Or even just cutting the childs ahir short.

As it stands, it appears there are plenty of people who don't have any problem with saying they'll do what they want rather than what's right.

After reading this thread it's not a big mystery on how these things continue to get spread.

 

[my4kids]

Or even just cutting the childs ahir short.

As it stands, it appears there are plenty of people who don't have any problem with saying they'll do what they want rather than what's right.

After reading this thread it's not a big mystery on how these things continue to get spread.

If you are including me in your accusation,

I never said what I did was "what I wanted" I did and continue to do what is right, I did everything just as my pediatrician instructed me. I did not run to the DIS to consult with all of the "experts" who would have me shave my childs head and keep her home for weeks I went by what the guy with the MD on the end of his name told me.

 

[punkin]

I guess I don't see a buzz cut on a girl as a big deal. I had a buzz cut in HS (OK, I also wore surplus army boots-let's not go there) and no one thought I had lice (they may have thought some other things which weren't true either, but not lice) .

 

[disneyfan67]

Or even just cutting the childs ahir short.

As it stands, it appears there are plenty of people who don't have any problem with saying they'll do what they want rather than what's right.

After reading this thread it's not a big mystery on how these things continue to get spread.

I have to agree with you on this. At first I watched this thread with partial amusement because it was continuing to go on after the Op had left for WDW, head lice and all. The more I read on this thread, more of the serious nature sets in. You really begin to see the selfish side of people when you read discussions like this. The "do what I want to, screw everybody else" mentality is disturbing when it goes from simple issues like pool hopping and reusing mugs, to knowingly transmitting head lice. No one likes inconvenience or having to give something up they worked hard for, like a vacation, but I see common sense has finally left the building. (To partially use a old Elvis saying )

I just hope that no one at WDW or on that plane ends up getting lice. That would really be unfair, in fact it would be beyond the limits of unfair. I also finally see how things like this get spread. I just hope that the OP has done all she could do to kill the lice and has limited the exposure of it to others who may come in contact with her child.

 

[KristiKelly]

I have to admit, I don't know that I could/would give DD a buzz cut. I would keep her away from others, out of school, restaurants, etc. and certainly NOT take her to an amusement park. DD is 7-1/2 and has VERY slow growing hair, it would take her hair forever to grow back out.

I have heard that lice do not like dirty hair or hair products. The only time DD has to share a hat is a batting helmet in softball. I pull her hair back in a pony tail and then gob hairspray all through her hair. I guess I'll be doing this for WDW as well now.

 

[cardaway]

I just hope that no one at WDW or on that plane ends up getting lice. That would really be unfair, in fact it would be beyond the limits of unfair. I also finally see how things like this get spread. I just hope that the OP has done all she could do to kill the lice and has limited the exposure of it to others who may come in contact with her child.

What really sucks is the result could be somebody else cutting their trip short because the lice is spread at WDW and other people do the right thing.

 

[my4kids]

I have to agree with you on this. At first I watched this thread with partial amusement because it was continuing to go on after the Op had left for WDW, head lice and all. The more I read on this thread, more of the serious nature sets in. You really begin to see the selfish side of people when you read discussions like this. The "do what I want to, screw everybody else" mentality is disturbing when it goes from simple issues like pool hopping and reusing mugs, to knowingly transmitting head lice. No one likes inconvenience or having to give something up they worked hard for, like a vacation, but I see common sense has finally left the building. (To partially use a old Elvis saying )

I just hope that no one at WDW or on that plane ends up getting lice. That would really be unfair, in fact it would be beyond the limits of unfair. I also finally see how things like this get spread. I just hope that the OP has done all she could do to kill the lice and has limited the exposure of it to others who may come in contact with her child.

I really don't see this as the issue here. I would never knowingly spread lice and I would not go one vacation if I thought there was any chance of it spreading. The point was, that any medical professional will tell you that it was perfectly OK for this child to travel after being treated with RID. This mother needs to continue to use a lice comb to get nits out if she does not want a reoccurance, but the people with the medical degrees will tell you this mother did nothing wrong by leaving for WDW.

If the mother said, "I don't want to be bothered with this right before vacation, I deal with it when I get home" ,then THAT would be selfish irresponsible, and and to Hll with the rest of the world mentality. But SHE TREATED THE KID WIT RID. I will be the first to admit that won't stop the problem for good on it's own, but it will keep the child from being contagious for at least 10 days.

 

[my4kids]

What really sucks is the result could be somebody else cutting their trip short because the lice is spread at WDW and other people do the right thing.

That wouldn't happen. EVEN IF (big if, as I maintain this child would not be contagious for 10 days) she left a louse on a plane seat and another passenger sat there after her and picked it up, they would have NO CLUE they had lice for about 3 weeks until the itching started. It takes about that long to get symptoms. (You pick up one louse, it lays about 8-10 eggs a day, it takes about 10 days for them to hatch, then it takes another 10 for those to reach adult stage and start feeding and breeding, so the itching doesn't start for 3 weeks. Of course, then everday you are having another 8-10 hatch for a while, and if you REALLY ingnore symptoms and let it go longer that second wave would be a large amount........) still itchy?

 

[poohandwendy]

I have to agree with you on this. At first I watched this thread with partial amusement because it was continuing to go on after the Op had left for WDW, head lice and all. The more I read on this thread, more of the serious nature sets in. You really begin to see the selfish side of people when you read discussions like this. The "do what I want to, screw everybody else" mentality is disturbing when it goes from simple issues like pool hopping and reusing mugs, to knowingly transmitting head lice. No one likes inconvenience or having to give something up they worked hard for, like a vacation, but I see common sense has finally left the building. (To partially use a old Elvis saying )

I just hope that no one at WDW or on that plane ends up getting lice. That would really be unfair, in fact it would be beyond the limits of unfair. I also finally see how things like this get spread. I just hope that the OP has done all she could do to kill the lice and has limited the exposure of it to others who may come in contact with her child.

I agree.

I really, really feel for people who have something (anything) that gets in the way of a long-awaited and anticipated vacation. That is really a tough pill to swallow. It happens.

But when you essentially say "my convenience trumps the risk of infecting other people", sorry that is just plain selfish.

The Op of this thread was not 'sure' she got rid of the problem, she wasn't even sure she got them all.

Most of the people defending the idea of her going are using "If you are really thorough" as the criteria of there being no risk to others. Sorry, but no valid argument can be made that the Op had a clue what she was doing, even two hours before flying.

That is irresponsible, IMO.

 

[Mermaid02]

I'm going to ask my pediatrician out of curiousity if one RID treatment and a comb through means a child with head lice can go try on hats at a department store.

 

[C.Ann]

Most of the people defending the idea of her going are using "If you are really thorough" as the criteria of there being no risk to others. Sorry, but no valid argument can be made that the Op had a clue what she was doing, even two hours before flying.

That is irresponsible, IMO.

-----------------------

I agree.. And I have to say that I would be absolutely furious if I contracted head lice while at Disney (or anywhere else for that matter) because someone purposely chose to expose their child to others in this manner..

She didn't have a clue - and I have serious concerns as to whether or not she is continuing to follow up with the treatments and combing while on vacation..

 

[twinklebug]

Interesting read:

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T082500.asp

DO I NEED TO BE METICULOUS ABOUT REMOVING ALL THE NITS FROM MY CHILD'S SCALP?

It depends. If you use permethrin, which kills lice and eggs too, you don't need to remove all the nits. If you use a treatment that only kills live lice, but not the eggs, then you do need to try to get all the nits out. This is where the term "nit-picky" comes from – being meticulous about picking out all the nits.

Some schools have a "no nit" policy, stating that your child must be completely free of nits before returning to school. This policy has not been shown to decrease the spread of lice, but some schools remain strict nonetheless.

WHEN CAN MY CHILD RETURN TO SCHOOL?

Your child can return to school the day after treatment is given.

Gives pause to think, maybe the OP will be OK. I still think I would have shortened my DD's hair by a football field just to make it easier. So, if Dr. Sears' site is giving the right info and it's that easy to control Lice, I wonder why the world is infested with these useless critters.

 

[Hannathy]

but it will keep the child from being contagious for at least 10 days.

No it won't!!! Lice hatch in 6 to 10 days and there are eggs on that kids head that would have been laid 6-10 days AGO and could hatch today or tomorrow. The Rid could have also missed live lice it happens all the time. Another poster also showed that swimming negates the effectiveness of the shampoo and as I said I really doubt they are not swimming in the summer in Florida. That child could very well be and probably is contagious right now because we know the Mom did not get all the nits out nor did she have any plans to do that before leaving.

 

[my4kids]

I'm going to ask my pediatrician out of curiousity if one RID treatment and a comb through means a child with head lice can go try on hats at a department store.

oh come on. Ask if one RID treatment and a comb through and it is ok to go on vacation. Trying on hats is avoidable.

 

[Mermaid02]

oh come on. Ask if one RID treatment and a comb through and it is ok to go on vacation. Trying on hats is avoidable.

What's the difference between rubbing your head against a seat (rides, magical express etc) and putting on a hat?