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

[momof2inPA]

My daughter got sent home from school the day after we returned from Disney. Either she got them there or we took them there. Who knows. I do know that she was allowed back in school the next day after we began treating her for them. So if the mom was properly treating why should she not go on vacation?

It's unreasonable to think that the OP should miss her trip because her daughter has lice. Heck, I'd shampoo, comb, wash all the crap at home, pack the RID, give my kid a big comforting hug-- and have a good time.

And the statement that head lice has "the potential" to transmit disease is just silly. Don't you think medical professionals would be able to design a test to determine disease transmission through head lice? It would be easy, so I'm sure it's either been done or not seen as a viable problem by the medical community.

 

[djm99]

It's unreasonable to think that the OP should miss her trip because her daughter has lice. Heck, I'd shampoo, comb, wash all the crap at home, pack the RID, give my kid a big comforting hug-- and have a good time.

I respectfully disagree. The potential to spread Lice to many many families is too great. From the bed to one of the many theaters the OP could have (without taking great measures) exposed many. IMO, that is unfair to the many families that could be laying in that bed RIGHT NOW unaware that family BEFORE knowingly took their lice infected child to Disney. Its one thing, not to know your child has lice, and another to totally know – and opening willingly spread it to others. IMO, the OP has likely infected her own family. Especially since they likely stayed in one room with two beds. I hope I’m wrong, but I have a strong feeling I’m correct. This behavior is sad and irresponsible.

 

[DawnCt1]

I respectfully disagree. The potential to spread Lice to many many families is too great. From the bed to one of the many theaters the OP could have (without taking great measures) exposed many. IMO, that is unfair to the many families that could be laying in that bed RIGHT NOW unaware that family BEFORE knowingly took their lice infected child to Disney. Its one thing, not to know your child has lice, and another to totally know – and opening willingly spread it to others. IMO, the OP has likely infected her own family. Especially since they likely stayed in one room with two beds. I hope I’m wrong, but I have a strong feeling I’m correct. This behavior is sad and irresponsible.

DH feels you are wrong. If the head lice are treated properly with the correct shampoo and according to directions, and all of the nits are combed outthere is no risk. Additionally, head lice carry no diseases except for typhus but NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. Sometimes there are resistant lice and they come back thus requiring another treatment. Its an "inconvenience", albeit an unpleasant one. There is no physician who would advise any parent to cancel a vacation over headlice.

 

[DawnCt1]

You went to work with them?? That is just disgusting and inconsiderate to your co-workers! If someone at work had them and knew it I would inform management and they would be promptly sent home!!!

Some facts for you!!!!
While many have thought head lice to be only a nuisance, recent scientific study refutes this notion. DNA technology shows head lice to be the same species as the notorious body louse which has long been associated with diseases such as typhus and relapsing fever. The potential for disease transmission via the head louse should not be underestimated.

Relapsing fever in the United States is spread by ticks and lice do not spread typhus in the United States.

 

[Mermaid02]

DH feels you are wrong. If the head lice are treated properly with the correct shampoo and according to directions, and all of the nits are combed outthere is no risk. Additionally, head lice carry no diseases except for typhus but NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. Sometimes there are resistant lice and they come back thus requiring another treatment. Its an "inconvenience", albeit an unpleasant one. There is no physician who would advise any parent to cancel a vacation over headlice.

That's where many take issue here. The OP found the lice literally the night before they left.... her dd has waist length hair..... and she isn't even sure what she is looking at........ chances she got ALL of them are pretty slim. Edited to add: I doubt your dh can speak for every physician on the planet..... you can't say NO physician would advise this.

 

[djm99]

DH feels you are wrong. If the head lice are treated properly with the correct shampoo and according to directions, and all of the nits are combed outthere is no risk. Additionally, head lice carry no diseases except for typhus but NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. Sometimes there are resistant lice and they come back thus requiring another treatment. Its an "inconvenience", albeit an unpleasant one. There is no physician who would advise any parent to cancel a vacation over headlice.

I did not mention anything about diseases with head lice. You might be referring to another poster. I don't have a clue who your DH is, but as I stated I respectfully disagree. Its too many 'if she' did this and that to really make a conclusion. The OP didn't seek medical attention she sought Disboards advice. That's scary in itself. Lastly, ask DH would he stay in a Disney room of a family who knowingly went to WDW with Head lice and maybe (or maybe not) she correctly shampooed according to direction. Please ask DH that.

 

[DawnCt1]

That's where many take issue here. The OP found the lice literally the night before they left.... her dd has waist length hair..... and she isn't even sure what she is looking at........ chances she got ALL of them are pretty slim. Edited to add: I doubt your dh can speak for every physician on the planet..... you can't say NO physician would advise this.

While that it true, not every physician on the planet is an infectious disease expert so the "rest" of them don't count. So she finds them the night before, she follows the directions and kills them, the combs her hair, removes the nits, packs some more medication and repeats it in ten days to get anything that may have hatched and that is that.

 

[djm99]

So she finds them the night before, she follows the directions and kills them, the combs her hair, removes the nits, packs some more medication and repeats it in ten days to get anything that may have hatched and that is that.

Wow your good. You should visit elementary schools across America - since that is "it". I was under the impression that getting rid of them is not so easy. Some really do get rid of them quickly - others do not. I had a student that was out of school on two separate occasions for 3 - 4 days trying to get rid of them. The last time she cut her hair (which looked good on her) because she was sick of spreading it between siblings.

 

[DawnCt1]

I did not mention anything about diseases with head lice. You might be referring to another poster. I don't have a clue who your DH is, but as I stated I respectfully disagree. Its too many 'if she' did this and that to really make a conclusion. The OP didn't seek medical attention she sought Disboards advice. That's scary in itself. Lastly, ask DH would he stay in a Disney room of a family who knowingly went to WDW with Head lice and maybe (or maybe not) she correctly shampooed according to direction. Please ask DH that.

DH is an infectious disease specialist. Head lice do not require medical care. There are OTC products that work quite nicely. I can't imagine her running to the emergency room when the product to deal with lice is available anywhere. Any mother who is anxious about head lice will no doubt treat the problem. She doesn't want them any more than you do. There is nothing scary about it. Would we stay in a room if a guest preceeding us had lice?. Who knows, we probably all have at some point. In fact, if you travel enough, you probably have stayed in a hotel room where guests have had scabies. That's a lot worse. Its an inconvenience not the plague.

 

[DawnCt1]

Wow your good. You should visit elementary schools across America - since that is "it". I was under the impression that getting rid of them is not so easy. Some really do get rid of them quickly - others do not. I had a student that was out of school on two separate occasions for 3 - 4 days trying to get rid of them. The last time she cut her hair (which looked good on her) because she was sick of spreading it between siblings.

There are resistant lice. Treat them again. It isn't the end of the world. Through the years I have gotton "head lice announcements" several time a year when my kids were in elementary school. We have never had them in our family.

 

[Mkrop]

I have to agree with the previous poster, one treatment or two were not enough to help the girls in DS9's class last year. These poor girls had more junk in there hair and their hair comb, the moms described it as a pure nightmare!

Although I do feel better if DawnCT's DH is an infectous disease DR that they cant spread stuff but I still get sqeamish about bugs and bodily fluids!

 

[DawnCt1]

I have to agree with the previous poster, one treatment or two were not enough to help the girls in DS9's class last year. These poor girls had more junk in there hair and their hair comb, the moms described it as a pure nightmare!

Although I do feel better if DawnCT's DH is an infectous disease DR that they cant spread stuff but I still get sqeamish about bugs and bodily fluids!

And that is not surprising because we are all creeped out by creepy crawlie things. But in reality, as unpleasant as it was, it was just an inconvenience.

 

[LucyStorm]

As Dawn has pointed out, the RID or whatever was used would kill the live lice. The eggs wouldn't hatch out for another 7-10 days, thus the instructions to repeat. Even if the OP missed some nits, your risk of getting head lice from this child is small.

Sounds like mass hysteria to me.....

 

[Mkrop]

There are resistant lice. Treat them again. It isn't the end of the world. Through the years I have gotton "head lice announcements" several time a year when my kids were in elementary school. We have never had them in our family.

Treat them with pesticide when????? right away or in 10 days. The box says to do it once and only for a certain time bc this is poison you are putting on your kids head, so if you dont get them with the first RID treatment you cant put more pesticide on unitl 10days later.

I used to work in a pharmacy and had to show many people where the products were so we were bored one night after someone came in and started reading the boxes then I refreshed my reading when DS9's class dealt with it by going over and rereading the box, same directions 15 years later!

 

[DawnCt1]

As Dawn has pointed out, the RID or whatever was used would kill the live lice. The eggs wouldn't hatch out for another 7-10 days, thus the instructions to repeat. Even if the OP missed some nits, your risk of getting head lice from this child is small.

Sounds like mass hysteria to me.....

I think it is so funny that this thread has gone on for so long. I expected 10 posts and that would be the end. The poor OP is probably back from vacation already. If people are that anxious about lice, they should stay home because "stuff" is everywhere. If one were to spray luminol and take an ultra violet light into a hotel room, they probably would never go to WDW again.

 

[djm99]

DH is an infectious disease specialist. Head lice do not require medical care. There are OTC products that work quite nicely. I can't imagine her running to the emergency room when the product to deal with lice is available anywhere. Any mother who is anxious about head lice will no doubt treat the problem. She doesn't want them any more than you do. There is nothing scary about it. Would we stay in a room if a guest preceeding us had lice?. Who knows, we probably all have at some point. In fact, if you travel enough, you probably have stayed in a hotel room where guests have had scabies. That's a lot worse. Its an inconvenience not the plague.

You didn't answer the question - 'who knows' is not an answer! - don't worry about it. By no means have I suggested that this is a medical emergency but precautions are necessary to prevent from spreading. If it wasn't a 'big deal' schools would allow those kids to remain in school without any time home. Airlines would not specifically list lice as one of the reasons one should not enter their plane. If it wasn't a big deal so many on these boards who have had them, would not get the 'heebie geebies' with the thought of sleeping in the bed behind this family or another family like them. So no, lice are not the plague, but to knowingly expose individuals to this is irresponsible.

 

[LucyStorm]

psssstttt...Dawn...I used to be an Infection Control Nurse. Thus the common sense approach here.

Yes, they're creepy and crawly and they make you itch. But they ARE just an inconvenience.

Y'all make sure you don't go to any movie theaters again, will ya? Leaves the theater emptier for me when I go watch Captain Jack Sparrow.....

 

[darlak]

In case the OP is back and actually reading this thread, I thought I would post some helpful info. As I mentioned in my previous post, I work at Family Court and often have Ed. Neglect cases that result from headlice. We had one today and I learned of a new treatment product that actually dissolves the "glue" that holds the nits on the hair. It also uses no pesticides. Our local county Health Dept. gives this stuff rave reviews. It is available over the counter and can also be purchased online and at many beauty salons.



Fairy Tales Lice Good-Bye™ Mousse is a revolutionary new product to help remove lice and their eggs (nits). This is a nontoxic, pesticide free, enzyme based shampoo that is safe and effective. It has been clinically proven to dissolve nit “glue” to help parents remove lice and nits from the hair more efficiently. 1- 4 oz. bottle per order.

Eliminates Both Lice and Their Eggs (Nits)
• No harmful chemicals
• Non-toxic
• Clinically proven
• Safe for repeated applications
• 1 Plastic Egg Removal Comb Included

 

[DawnCt1]

Treat them with pesticide when????? right away or in 10 days. The box says to do it once and only for a certain time bc this is poison you are putting on your kids head, so if you dont get them with the first RID treatment you cant put more pesticide on unitl 10days later.

I used to work in a pharmacy and had to show many people where the products were so we were bored one night after someone came in and started reading the boxes then I refreshed my reading when DS9's class dealt with it by going over and rereading the box, same directions 15 years later!

DH would not use it more than twice in ten days. If she failed to kill the lice with the first application, she should of course call her pediatrician and proceed from there and not make that decision on her own. I am sure he is only a phone call away. We have called our pediadontist on from WDW.

 

[Mkrop]

psssstttt...Dawn...I used to be an Infection Control Nurse. Thus the common sense approach here.

Yes, they're creepy and crawly and they make you itch. But they ARE just an inconvenience.

Y'all make sure you don't go to any movie theaters again, will ya? Leaves the theater emptier for me when I go watch Captain Jack Sparrow.....

No I am not going to live my life avoiding movie theaters or WDW or hotel rooms but when you knowingly expose other people that doesnt sit right. One thing to not know and spread it but too know is just rude. I really dont wish to expose my family to pesticides for no reason or clean my house and car from top to bottom (although they could use it) because of someone knowingly speading it to my family.

So if someone has it and treated themselves hopefully the correct way, you would allow them into your home and sleep in your bed.