Crystal
10-21-2007, 09:18 PM
Head lice
First, don't panic.
Next, do a little research. www.headlice.org is a good place to start. So is http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html.
Treat the lice with whatever treatment you decide to use. DO NOT treat family members who do not have lice as a precaution. Rid and other treatments are pesticides and should not be used on those without lice.
Cut and pasted from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html.
Washing and drying (with heat) the pillowcases, sheets, nightclothes, towels and stuffed animals may possibly eliminate lice and eggs that might otherwise reinfest a family member. Combs, brushes, hats and other hair accessories in contact with an infested person should be washed in hot water each day to dislodge any lice and nits. Shared helmets and headphones in schools or recreational settings may rarely and transiently harbor an occasional louse or nit; the effort necessary to effectively inspect and clean these devices, however, is not likely warranted. Shared lockers or coat hooks probably pose even less risk as sources of contamination. Any lice or nits that might detach in a swimming pool would likely be removed by the pool filter or should otherwise perish before they have a chance to contact a person. Closing a swimming pool because of lice is a hysterical overreaction.
Do not use fumigant sprays; they can be toxic if inhaled.
Common Myths about Head Lice. cut and pasted from http://shop.store.yahoo.com/buyinprivate/commytabhead.html
Myth: Lice "Jump" from child to child.
Truth: Lice cannot leap. Lice are transferred by contact, either directly or through another device (such as a comb, hat, furniture and or bedding).
Myth: I should use a pesticide on every surface of my house if my child has lice.
Truth: Off of the body, lice can only survive for a day or two. Nits that hatch will die if they don't find food within hours. There is no need to clean every inch of the house. Concentrate on the hair, bedding, hats, toys, and furniture instead.
Myth: Fumigating is the way to really kill lice.
Truth: Fumigating won't be effective because all of the humans won't be present. Lice live on humans and animals. Fumigating the house will be ineffective. Fumigation also has no effect on the nits (unhatched eggs). Concentrate on the hair, bedding, hats, toys, and furniture instead.
Myth: Petroleum Jelly or Vaseline is the way to kill lice.
Truth: Using petroleum jelly may smother lice, but it will take forever to remove it. You might also find it is ineffective in destroying nits. Every year we receive desperate calls from parents asking how to remove the Vaseline from their children’s hair. We still don't know. A warning regarding the use of products such as Vaseline. I took a survival course and one of the things that we used for quick fire starting is "Vaseline" (petroleum jelly) soaked cotton swabs. Just a few sparks from a flint stick and "voila" a fire. Keep your child's head away from open flames e.g. candles, cigarettes etc. Also beware, this is a petroleum product that you are smothering your child's head with.
Myth: Using Mayonnaise and a shower cap is the way to kill lice.
Truth: This is gross. It is also ineffective.
Myth: I need to shave my Childs head.
Truth: Hair removal can help the problem, but it will be traumatic. You will do better to use a lice shampoo and carefully comb out the nits. Leave the shaving for when you send them off to the military as a teenager.
Myth: Lindane is the best lice treatment.
Truth: Lindane is a dangerous, prescription-only lice treatment. This drug has a checkered past. In 18 years ago consumer advocates petitioned the FDA to have it removed from the market. It is linked to reports of seizures and even death from improper use. Consumer Reports suggests throwing away a prescription for Lindane. "Besides" they say "it is not as good at killing lice as the over-the-counter products".
Myth: Gasoline or Kerosene is a good lice treatment.
Truth: Every year someone manages to kill or maim a child because they believe that gasoline or kerosene is an effective lice killer (they are not). The last case we know of was a 13 year old girl from Lorimor, Iowa. The volatile fumes will combust. These products should not be applied to the hair (or other parts of the body).
Myth: Lice are dangerous and carry disease.
Truth: Lice will cause itching and a rash, but there are few serious health risks. Mostly, it is an embarrassment issue.
Myth: Only dirty kids get lice.
Truth: Personal hygiene has little to do with it. Lice can survive 24 hours underwater and they are not killed by soap and water.
Myth: Once you kill the lice you are done.
Truth: Lice eggs (nits) will hatch after about 7-10 days. If they are not removed after you shampoo it is likely you will be reinfested shortly.
Myth: You will know right away if you have lice.
Truth: It takes your immune system 4-6 weeks to develop a sensitivity to louse saliva. Meanwhile a female louse can lay 6 to 10 nits a day. By the time you find out, several generations of lice may be in residence.
Links:
http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/nursery/lice.htm This site talks about a lot of different remedies.
http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/phtm/PHTM/hlice/hldetkit.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/headlice/default.htm
http://www.nitmix.com/index.htm
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/buyinprivate/commytabhead.html
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/conditions/a/head_lice.htm
First, don't panic.
Next, do a little research. www.headlice.org is a good place to start. So is http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html.
Treat the lice with whatever treatment you decide to use. DO NOT treat family members who do not have lice as a precaution. Rid and other treatments are pesticides and should not be used on those without lice.
Cut and pasted from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/headlice.html.
Washing and drying (with heat) the pillowcases, sheets, nightclothes, towels and stuffed animals may possibly eliminate lice and eggs that might otherwise reinfest a family member. Combs, brushes, hats and other hair accessories in contact with an infested person should be washed in hot water each day to dislodge any lice and nits. Shared helmets and headphones in schools or recreational settings may rarely and transiently harbor an occasional louse or nit; the effort necessary to effectively inspect and clean these devices, however, is not likely warranted. Shared lockers or coat hooks probably pose even less risk as sources of contamination. Any lice or nits that might detach in a swimming pool would likely be removed by the pool filter or should otherwise perish before they have a chance to contact a person. Closing a swimming pool because of lice is a hysterical overreaction.
Do not use fumigant sprays; they can be toxic if inhaled.
Common Myths about Head Lice. cut and pasted from http://shop.store.yahoo.com/buyinprivate/commytabhead.html
Myth: Lice "Jump" from child to child.
Truth: Lice cannot leap. Lice are transferred by contact, either directly or through another device (such as a comb, hat, furniture and or bedding).
Myth: I should use a pesticide on every surface of my house if my child has lice.
Truth: Off of the body, lice can only survive for a day or two. Nits that hatch will die if they don't find food within hours. There is no need to clean every inch of the house. Concentrate on the hair, bedding, hats, toys, and furniture instead.
Myth: Fumigating is the way to really kill lice.
Truth: Fumigating won't be effective because all of the humans won't be present. Lice live on humans and animals. Fumigating the house will be ineffective. Fumigation also has no effect on the nits (unhatched eggs). Concentrate on the hair, bedding, hats, toys, and furniture instead.
Myth: Petroleum Jelly or Vaseline is the way to kill lice.
Truth: Using petroleum jelly may smother lice, but it will take forever to remove it. You might also find it is ineffective in destroying nits. Every year we receive desperate calls from parents asking how to remove the Vaseline from their children’s hair. We still don't know. A warning regarding the use of products such as Vaseline. I took a survival course and one of the things that we used for quick fire starting is "Vaseline" (petroleum jelly) soaked cotton swabs. Just a few sparks from a flint stick and "voila" a fire. Keep your child's head away from open flames e.g. candles, cigarettes etc. Also beware, this is a petroleum product that you are smothering your child's head with.
Myth: Using Mayonnaise and a shower cap is the way to kill lice.
Truth: This is gross. It is also ineffective.
Myth: I need to shave my Childs head.
Truth: Hair removal can help the problem, but it will be traumatic. You will do better to use a lice shampoo and carefully comb out the nits. Leave the shaving for when you send them off to the military as a teenager.
Myth: Lindane is the best lice treatment.
Truth: Lindane is a dangerous, prescription-only lice treatment. This drug has a checkered past. In 18 years ago consumer advocates petitioned the FDA to have it removed from the market. It is linked to reports of seizures and even death from improper use. Consumer Reports suggests throwing away a prescription for Lindane. "Besides" they say "it is not as good at killing lice as the over-the-counter products".
Myth: Gasoline or Kerosene is a good lice treatment.
Truth: Every year someone manages to kill or maim a child because they believe that gasoline or kerosene is an effective lice killer (they are not). The last case we know of was a 13 year old girl from Lorimor, Iowa. The volatile fumes will combust. These products should not be applied to the hair (or other parts of the body).
Myth: Lice are dangerous and carry disease.
Truth: Lice will cause itching and a rash, but there are few serious health risks. Mostly, it is an embarrassment issue.
Myth: Only dirty kids get lice.
Truth: Personal hygiene has little to do with it. Lice can survive 24 hours underwater and they are not killed by soap and water.
Myth: Once you kill the lice you are done.
Truth: Lice eggs (nits) will hatch after about 7-10 days. If they are not removed after you shampoo it is likely you will be reinfested shortly.
Myth: You will know right away if you have lice.
Truth: It takes your immune system 4-6 weeks to develop a sensitivity to louse saliva. Meanwhile a female louse can lay 6 to 10 nits a day. By the time you find out, several generations of lice may be in residence.
Links:
http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/nursery/lice.htm This site talks about a lot of different remedies.
http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/phtm/PHTM/hlice/hldetkit.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/headlice/default.htm
http://www.nitmix.com/index.htm
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/buyinprivate/commytabhead.html
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/conditions/a/head_lice.htm