What would you do...a lice question!-new update

[JMLBrats]

Okay, my niece's birthday party is next weekend, and my other niece (her sister) has lice, or at least still had it last weekend. So even if she got rid of it in the last few days....isn't it still risky to be around her two weeks later. There are 4 kids in their house altogether so I think the odds are pretty great that the other kids may get it too. Apparantly they shampooed with lice chemical shampoo a few times, and tried the mayo/wrapping the hair with plastic wrap overnight and nothing was working. I haven't heard anything in the last week, but I have my doubts. I asked my pediatrician and she said she would steer clear for a while. Just wondering if any of you have had experience with this and how long it takes to clear up. We would feel really bad about missing the party but school starts the following week and we're going away for a mini vacation the following weekend. What do you guys think?

 

[snugglepeas]

when a child has head lice you are told to wash all clothes, sheet, blakets, stuffed animals that the child has come into contact with because the lice can spread to those things and then reinfect the child or children, it's not enough to just wash there hair a few times with lice shampoo

 

[JMLBrats]

yes, I hope and assume that they are doing that, but I'm not very close to my sister and brother in law so I usually get information from my mother in law and haven't heard in a few days. (I am very close to the kids and would hate to disappoint them of course).

 

[lovesmurfs]

I can't help much with your question, but I found out that a girl my daughter had just played (extensively and closely) with got lice. Without seeing anything, I wasn't going to take any chances -- bought the shampoo and treated her and washed everything anyway. We never saw a single louse. If you go to the party, I'd recommend that....

If your kids are like mine, word would get back to your sister as to why -- lying never pays.

 

[JMLBrats]

I can't help much with your question, but I found out that a girl my daughter had just played (extensively and closely) with got lice. Without seeing anything, I wasn't going to take any chances -- bought the shampoo and treated her and washed everything anyway. We never saw a single louse. If you go to the party, I'd recommend that....

If your kids are like mine, word would get back to your sister as to why -- lying never pays.

well, that's the problem-if they claim that the house is free of lice and we don't go to the party-they will probably be upset. We never miss a party and if we try to make up some other reason for not going, I don't think they will buy it.
did I mention that we have 3 kids of our own, one has very long hair!

 

[TinkNH]

I used to work in a residential home for children and I was also a school teacher so I have seen more than my share of lice outbreaks in the past 15 yrs. Whenever we had a child in the program with lice I would put my hair up in a bun and use gel, mousse, spray ect and I have never once gotten them (knock on wood) and I used to sleep over at the residential program. The reason children get lice so easily is that they usually have clean hair free from styling products and chemical processing. Lice dont like any of that. If you really feel you cannot avoid going to the party (even though imho you have every right to) I would use products in your childrens hair (esp the nape of the neck and behind ears) and if it is long enough pull it up in pigtail braids or something. I would also wash their hair with a lice shampoo when you got home...just to be safe. Personally I would not go over untill I was sure the lice was completly gone..simply because it can be a pain to get rid of. They should understand that

 

[jchick]

We had an outbreak last year at my daughter's school. Sadly, it was the same family, they didn't have a lot of money and it was difficult for them to get rid of it (the school helped them).

Anyhow, with school starting so soon, I wouldn't chance it. You wouldn't want to bring it to your kid's school. I would talk to the parents and they should understand. Make a great "certificate" for the child and send it saying you'll be taking him/her to a special playdate on X Date (2-3 Saturdays from now!) to Chuck-E-Cheese, a kid's museum, etc.

 

[JMLBrats]

I used to work in a residential home for children and I was also a school teacher so I have seen more than my share of lice outbreaks in the past 15 yrs. Whenever we had a child in the program with lice I would put my hair up in a bun and use gel, mousse, spray ect and I have never once gotten them (knock on wood) and I used to sleep over at the residential program. The reason children get lice so easily is that they usually have clean hair free from styling products and chemical processing. Lice dont like any of that. If you really feel you cannot avoid going to the party (even though imho you have every right to) I would use products in your childrens hair (esp the nape of the neck and behind ears) and if it is long enough pull it up in pigtail braids or something. I would also wash their hair with a lice shampoo when you got home...just to be safe. Personally I would not go over untill I was sure the lice was completly gone..simply because it can be a pain to get rid of. They should understand that

I agree, they should, but I never know with them...
Anyway, maybe you would know since you've had experience, how long are you suppossed to wait to be sure the disgusting things are really gone?

 

[dbarker]

When DS was going to be around kids that I knew probably had lice, I would put baby oil in his hair. It washes out easy and the bugs hate it. We never had a problem.

 

[sara74]

I'd give it at least 2 weeks!

We had a run in with lice years before we even had kids! We watched Dniece for a week while the IL's (who are raising her) went on vacation. She was in K and came home with lice. DH and I treated ourselves, treated her twice, treated all the furniture, vaccuumed the house several times, bagged all the stuffed animals and coats and pillows. Did 17 (I counted and am not exaggerating) loads of laundry. Spent over $100 on products. Took our new puppy to the vet just in case (BTW dogs don't get lice and don't need treatment).

Never even got a thank you from MIL.

After that experience I don't EVER want to get lice! Take it from me - skip the party. It was 6 years ago for us and my head still itches.

 

[seven dwarfs]

It can take a long time. If you google it, there is lots of info. I think it can take 7-14 days for the eggs to hatch. The problem is if you do not get every egg of the hair shaft then they will hatch. The shampoo does not kill the eggs. This is where most people mess up. I do agree with the hair pulled back and spray it with aqua net hairspray. Also tell the kids to stay away from beds, pillows and laying on floor. The shampoo should not be used unless you see evidence of the bugs. If the bedding ane things are not cleaned correctly and the eggs are not removed then it is big trouble. Good luck...

 

[StephMK]

It depends on how long you'd be at the party & the type of activities. My oldest DD had it at age 6 with super thick hair & it was the WORST. You really have to make sure it's gone & keep using the comb nightly. However, kids in my younger DD's class had it last year & I never treated her nor did she bring it home. So you can be around them without necessarily catching them.

If they will be in the house & free play in the bedrooms & wherever, I'd stay home. It was just too much of a month long ordeal to be reasonably certain they were gone. With multiple kids, I wouldn't want to chance getting them in your home. If the ILs are upset, well too bad. I did feel terrible feeling like we were lepers but I would have felt worse if my DD had passed it along to any friends. Hopefully, they will understand that.

 

[CindyAnn]

Hi JMLBrats. The thing about your post that worries me is that you state your sister (SIL?) has tried shampooing at least twice, plus a mayo wrap, and nothing seemed to work.

DS has brought home head lice not once, not twice, but four times! Twice it was limited to him, once he gave it to me, and once he gave it to me and my DD. Although DD was younger at that time, her hair was still probably about 30 inches long, so that was pretty nasty.

It helps if you're like me, and completely neurotic about things like that. I would lie awake at night, unable to sleep, and have lice nightmares. It might not be a great way to live, but it's a wonderful philosophy for getting rid of head lice. In my experience, the easy-going families sometimes had lice issues for weeks and weeks.

In each case I was able to get everything under control within 2 days, and completely eradicated in under a week. I'm not happy about using chemical shampoos, especially those like Quellada (sp?), and unfortunately, many strains of lice are now resistant to removal by chemical means. So, we used Dippety-do (a hair-styling gel), slathered on and kept under a shower cap overnight. It's a treatment recommended at our school. HOWEVER, it kills some of the lice, and slows down the rest, and whatever option you use, YOU HAVE TO NITPICK LIKE A MANIAC with a licemeister comb, too. My nitpicking schedule was twice a day for the first week, and DD's hair alone took about 2 - 3 hours to nitpick each time.

I washed every comb, brush, towel, sheet and pair of pyjamas every day. I also washed every item of clothing worn every day (I normally would do that anyway, but that included hats and jackets in the winter). I cleaned all the car seats, and put a towel (removed each day) on the headrests if we needed to use the car.

I wouldn't wish head lice on my worst enemy! Lice eradication became my full-time job for a week, and I continued with shorter follow-up checks for many weeks after.

I really like jchick's idea of a "certificate". Anybody who is currently going through this should understand completely why someone else wouldn't want to get involved.

In terms of waiting..... they can last for weeks and months if not completely eradicated, especially if the original source (perhaps school? daycare? camp?) isn't cleaned up as well, which could result in the family being reinfected.

Yuck! Yuck!! Yuck!!! You don't want to go there!

Best of Luck!

 

[daisyduck123]

I cleaned all the car seats, and put a towel (removed each day) on the headrests if we needed to use the car.

You have to beware of any type of cloth seats that the child has sat in. Some people may think this sounds crazy but that's also the reason why I HATE going to the movies...& when I do, I try to not even lean back in the seat!!! Lice could be there!! (I'm a teacher...I've seen lice too many times!!)

 

[JMLBrats]

I really appreciate all the input. I did do some searches on the net and read some horror stories about lice and I've even had a couple of semi-sleepless nights worrying about how to handle the situation. Of course I don't want anyone upset with us and to disappoint my niece, but I really don't think I can handle dealing with lice in my house right now! (I'm hoping to never have to!)

 

[torinsmom]

I wouldn't chance it. Maybe you could conveniently have other plans or one of you could feel under the weather.

I would NOT use the chemical shampoos unless your child has actual lice bugs. That stuff is very strong and some people even say it can be toxic. If there are no bugs, and only eggs, a lice pick will be sufficient. If there are no eggs, there is no reason to treat. Check the nape of the neck for dandruff looking things that are hard to get off the hair. Those are the nits.

When there has been lice at our school, I oil up my son's hair and don't wash it as often. Lice like clean hair. I have also been told that tea tree oil is a lice deterrent. You can find shampoos with tea tree oil in them. I have heard the hairspray thing is a myth, but I usually do that too if there is an outbreak at school. Put long hair up in a braid or bun.

Oh, and if you have to vacuum your house to get rid of these things, THROW OUT THE BAG! You can reinfest the house. Carseat covers are often missed and should be washed.

Good luck!

Marsha

 

[TinkNH]

I agree, they should, but I never know with them...
Anyway, maybe you would know since you've had experience, how long are you suppossed to wait to be sure the disgusting things are really gone?

I hear ya..I know how family can be.
As for how long it can last..it all depends on how thorough they were in cleaning. If they washed and dried all bedding in hot water, put things that can't be washed in freezer..used the shampoo and comb exactly as you are supposed to and got every single nit (the eggs..they STICK to the hair shaft and need to be removed by combing..the shampoo does not kill them) then fairly quickly..my experience has been a week or so of constant care before they are all gone..and I know public schools around here will not let a student return until they have been checked by the nurse and deemed lice free.
And yeah it is sort of gross..but remember that the kids who get the lice the easiest are the ones with clean hair and stuff. It is not a sign of poor hygine or anything, and can happen to anyone. Best to teach your kids to never share hats, hair accessories and the like. If you feel you have to go to the party I would take precautions, and try to make sure your kids dont flop on the bedding or couches..or trade party hats and stuff. Sounds like you are stuck inbetween a rock and a hard place....sorry

 

[mimif1]

I wouldn't chance it either. My daughter had a girl in her classroom last year that had it for the ENTIRE year. They would clean her up and two weeks later she had it again. They weren't treating the house properly. My poor daughter wore her hair in a bun for the entire school year with gel and hairspray. This year, the same girl is in her class again and went home the first day back with lice! The parents just gave up over the summer and she was completely infested. So we're back to braids and buns for another year. Hairspray and gel are our friends! So far, we've been lucky, but it can be a nightmare (especially with two girls with waist length hair!) I feel bad for the niece, but hopefully, if they're going through this, they'll understand. Of course if it was my child with lice, I would have to postpone the party. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

 

[noahynav]

I wouldn't chance it either. My daughter had a girl in her classroom last year that had it for the ENTIRE year. They would clean her up and two weeks later she had it again. They weren't treating the house properly. My poor daughter wore her hair in a bun for the entire school year with gel and hairspray. This year, the same girl is in her class again and went home the first day back with lice! The parents just gave up over the summer and she was completely infested. So we're back to braids and buns for another year. Hairspray and gel are our friends! So far, we've been lucky, but it can be a nightmare (especially with two girls with waist length hair!) I feel bad for the niece, but hopefully, if they're going through this, they'll understand. Of course if it was my child with lice, I would have to postpone the party. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

That is a horrible story!! I feel so bad for your daughter.
I am absolutely paranoid about lice. Just the thought of it makes my skin and scalp crawl. My sons school is so lax about it. They have kids share earphones, pile jackets on top of each other during the winter, throw all the art t-shirts in the same bin, and they wonder why they have a break outs every year. People always say lice doesn't mean you area dirty....I agree to a point. I think a lot of clean people end up catching it from dirty people. If parents were more pro active and responsible they would catch the outbreaks sooner. In the situation described above, I am sorry to say that I think these are dirty people. Are they even trying to rid their home of these bugs? That poor child. It's people like these that spread it to other families that do everything to prevent it.
School is starting here soon and as usual I will be inspecting my son's head every day. (Yep! I check every day.....I wish more parents did that)

To the OP....I am sure you can guess by my little rant what I am going to say about the party.....RUN!! Do not go, say you are sick, plan a family trip for the day, anything. I do not think the party would be worth the trade off of months of clean up and disinfecting everything. If it were me I would not even be able to relax in the house knowing that they "had tried everything and it still wasn't gone" It's all I would be thinking about. But then i realize that I am a little nuerotic, and this is a hot button issue for me. So maybe I am not the best person to give advice.

 

[barkley]

my advice is dont go there and dont go near them until YOU are certain the issue is over.

i have been exposed to lice twice-and both times i was nowhere near an infested 'carrier'. both times occurred at the infant/toddler section of the daycare my daughter was at-and they were RABID in detecting it (they check each child's head upon drop off each morning). in both cases they detected and turned away a child with nits/lice before they were exposed to the rest of the children BUT those lice can JUMP from person to person. so while the provider cleaned completly (going so far as to change tops) it only took a moment for a louse to jump undetected from her clothing to mine and into my hair(which i can't imagine was too appealing-it had hairspray and still stunk of perm solution less than 48 hours old ). fortunatly (for me) i have very fine hair and felt something tickleing my scalp and was able to remove it quickly and dispose of it. i still had to use the shampoo as a preventative measure (which will eat away a perm at record speed) but at least i did'nt have to go through the nightmare of the washing and sanitizing-but we had kids that got lice whose parents were dogged in doing everything right only to have one outbreak after another (and although it's an extreme case-we had a neighbor girl who had so many repeated bouts despite ardent treatment/deterance her pediatrician finaly reccommended shaving her lovely long hair off so that she would'nt have to be subjected to so much chemical treatment ).

from the sounds of the other posts i guess we are lucky-if a school has a child/family with headlice there is a minimum number of days they can be kept out of the school, and with repeated occurances the health department is called in to monitor and ensure appropriate treatment/deterance is occuring (they've had some terrible epidemics of entire classrooms so they've taken a very proactive stance-including regular education and inspections for the kids).