I Suspect Lice, Should Mom Leave?

Lice is an annoyance not a health concern!!! What you did talking to everyone else but mom 1 was rude. If it gets back to this girl that everyone thinks she has lice (because you told everyone) her self esteem could be damaged. Kids are cruel and you are acting like them.

I have to agree... it's unlikely in the extreme that it was lice. (Glitter, cake, gum, glue, sand, I can't even list all the things I've pulled out of my son's hair). And if it was, ditto, a mom bringing in a kid who's got the sniffles to a public event is more dangerous than a mom bringing in a kid who has lice. Lice is annoying, but not as much of a health concern as the common cold, much less all of the other bugs that go around.

I do have to say though, that especially during lice scares (and working in hospitals means that you have double the number as regular parents, because patients bring them in all the time), I get a little compulsive about checking my son's hair. And then there is the inevitable "find"... glitter, playdoh, carpet fuzzy, blade of grass... and he washes his hair every morning. We've yet to have lice, but that doesn't stop me from not even realizing that I'm checking. It's an annoying habit of healthcare workers, actually, the checking hair, lymph nodes, breath, foreheads... 99% of the time our kids our completely fine... but we do it all the time. And it's almost a knee jerk reaction if someone else happens to mention "x" is going around and our kids are close by. <laughing> NOTHING sets me to casually examining my son's hair (forehead) etc., than a casual mention in conversation of "x", regardless of whether we're in public or not.

As to reporting it to her work... you COULD... but telling her boss that she appeared to be checking her son for lice in a public place... I don't see what it would do. It's certainly not against medical ethics. If anything, checking kids for lice off duty, is above and beyond.

You seem to be very concerned and caring about what is going on in your son's school, not just for his sake but for others... and for that kudos. This is most likely one of those non-issues though.

:)
Z

You are correct on reason #4, you had no proof. Apparently you were the only one who was concerned about it.

Simmer down. Lice is NOT a "health concern". It is very common . . .sure nobody wants to get lice, but it isn't the end of the world. I DO agree that if she was indeed picking lice of her childs head that is pretty gross.

I would have mentioned something to the parent in charge and left it at that . . . and of course made sure that my daughter didn't sit on any fabric covered furniture or hang her jacket next to anyone elses. Other than that I think your daughter is just fine.

I would NOT say something to the school or the hospital. If you want to speak with anyone, be an adult and bring it up to the mom even if you feel uncomfortable about it. Maybe that will ease your fears, just try to give her the benefit of the doubt and not be judgemental.

I M P O ... Next time you see this mother, ask her what she was doing. I would absolutely NOT go to the school without talking to her about it, and I would definitely NEVER go to her place of employment and mess with her job like that. Especially since you don't know for certain. There are so many people in the medical field who are looking for jobs right now, and if there is a question about her medical practices (even an unfounded one), she might be put on disciplinary action, or terminated. You don't want to be the cause of that, especially if she was just picking out a piece of dandruff or grass. And just because she was wearing scrubs doesn't mean that she is a nurse. Dentists, veterinarians, and lots of other professions wear scrubs too. Before you go messing around with her life, ask her what you saw. And if she does say "yes, it was lice", then you could tell her that you thought it was innapropriate for her to do that where other children are. And if you see it happen again, bring it to the attention of everyone else who has kids around hers. Then inform the school that a child who attends there has a known case of lice. Just don't do anything that could get her in trouble with her job. In this economy, the medical field is very competitive and she could be out of a job for a while. Lice is just one of those things that children get, like the chicken pox. Check your daughter, and if you have any lingering concerns, buy one of those shampoos and use it on her, even if you don't find anything. But for sure ask Mom 1 what you saw before you take this any further.

I would do nothing and I wouldn't care if a mom was messing around in their childs hair. You don't know what she was doing and if you were really concerned at the time you should have just asked her what she's getting out of the kids hair. Lice certainly isn't a health concern. Gross, yes but no health concern. If you are really concerned about it, then ask the school if there is a lice going around there.

Currently at my childs school there is lice going around. They sent a note home and gave directions on how to look for it and I just looked in my sons hair, found nothing and that was it. All the while, there are still kids at the school with lice... no big deal.

Since it's after the fact I'd let it go. Be reassured that the chances of anyone else getting the lice is minimal. To catch them one must be in contact with the lice. In this case it means be lying on the floor.

I agree that she shouldn't have been doing that if what she appeared to be doing is what she was doing. It's my philosophy to ask whenever I'm concerned. At the time I would've asked in an interested voice, "are you picking off head lice?" If her answer was yes, I'd ask, "does that mean they could land in our hair?" or something like that. Or I might make a "joke" and say, "guess we're going to stay away from you guys."

I'm guessing that since she's a nurse she knows that in that short period of time during which no one else has contact with her daughter the likelihood of anyone catching the lice is minimal.

You can consider that it was nits that she was picking out. They have to have a host to live. Nits would be even less a problem.

I do wonder why she was doing that. I suppose it's possible that what she was picking off was lint or dandruff. That's why I always ask. If she's offended that's her problem. But if you ask in a friendly voice she's not apt to be offended.

I think it's likely the parent who knows her outside work will say something to her.

And......just because she's in scrubs does not mean shes a nurse. If she is she may be a nurses aide. There are several nurse related occupations that identify people as nurses when in fact they are not. My daughter was a medical assistant and some identified her as a nurse. She completed a 6 month course and wore scrubs.

Bottom line; I would not report it to anyone because you don't actually know what she was doing. I'd treat this as a reminder to ask whenever I was concerned.

You can call your own doctor's office and ask if being in this situation could result in you or your daughter getting head lice. I think that this could reassure you.

If she was pulling lice out of her child's hair, the louse was dead. You wouldn't be able to do that very easily if they were alive - which means she had treated her child (and presumably her house).

In addition, I have a child that constantly has stuff in her hair - from dead skin to fuzz to leaves and grass from her last outdoor excursion to who knows what. And I quite often pull those things out of her hair in all kinds of places without giving it a second thought. You may not have seen a mother dealing with lice, but instead dealing with a child with courser hair.

I highly doubt she was pulling lice out of her child's hair. As a mother who has been through the whole lice experience, it is extremely difficult to see lice in the hair....especially if you don't have a light source that is right next to the head your are inspecting. I found a live louse on my daughter's hair while parting her hair in sections specifically looking for lice. It was a little smaller than a grain or rice. They are small little boogers who are most likely found under hair behind the ears or at the base of the scalp.

First off, you don't know that it was lice. I pick things out of my children's hair all the time - fuzz, food, etc. Secondly, while lice is a nuisance, it isn't a health hazard.

Continue to check your own children for lice and treat them if found.

home school your kids, you won't have this problem....

O.K., Do we know if it was lice? Could it have been a bug or spider from outside? . ...Hmmm.. ?
As for lice being a health concern ?...I know It's a pain in the butt....
This woman "reportedly" works at a hospital and is a nurse. And...? Are you seriously thinking about going to her place of work about this? I am willing to bet that you have a county health dept. in your area. I suggest going there first with any concerns or questions.

Why would you call her work? You do not know if she was picking lice from her daughters hair. Which is highly unlikely. If you did not feel comfortable with something going on at the function and was concerned about your daughter then you could have left the function.

If it were true that the child had head lice, that would indeed be astonishing and completely wrong.

BUT - it could VERY easily have been soooo many other things. I know that I'm always picking lint out of my daughter's hair after a nap (from her fuzzy blanket). I also find that sometimes I have to pick food out of her hair when she accidentally runs her hands through her hair during dinner/lunch.

My daughter is only 18 months, so I've never had a lice scare, but I'm actually really concerned about your reaction. The fact that you want to call this woman's place of employment and rat her out is incredibly critical and even mean. Is there something else going on here?

So I'm not saying that your reaction is wrong, but I'm saying that it might not even be what you think it is. I highly doubt someone would even bring their child to an event like that when they have lice. If so, wow. I can't even comprehend it.

Hi KM - Usually at the beginning of the year schools send out instructions on how to spot and handle head lice. Make sure this child got one. I would just let the incident go as they probably were not lice, but could have been fleas, which can live in and around hair. Scrubs don't mean she is a nurse... Chill a bit, maybe have your child ask if this child has a cat or dog they play with a lot.

In situations like this, I find a direct and sympathetic approach works well. Approach the woman in a way you would want to be approached. For example, you could ask the woman if her child is okay. Or, you could ask (in a sympathetic way) oh, does your child have lice? You could even follow up with a story about your experience with lice and how it was so difficult, etc. When the woman answers, you'll find out if you have cause for concern and can follow with a suggestion to pick the child's lice elsewhere. If it is not lice and only glitter, you can just say that you were concerned because you know how difficult lice can be. You can even make a fast friend by showing some honest concern for her child and sympathy for her situation.

First I would check your child for lice. Miserable job that is. (sigh) If it was a school function probably let the teacher know. And then keep a look out for your child's health. There is not much more you can do.

I have read all the comments and felt like adding a bit more to the discussion as THE LICE ISSUE has been a big one this year for us. I, too, would have been appalled to see another mother going through their kid's hair in a public place. Not only for the risk to others factor (especially if she wasn't killing every one) but also the social stigma factor. Our family had our first outbreak this past summer and then another one over Thanksgiving. We felt we couldn't really go out until things were under control. I can also see Mom 1's side. Like many moms, we don't have a lot of time to devote to lice eradication and it usually takes a lot of time and effort to effectively get rid of them. I am convinced this is one reason they are so prevalent right now! If one has a recurrent problem (whether from incomplete treatment or reinfestation from others), it gets really old ("Oh, no, not again!")and one may just not care after awhile if the only opportunity to check is at a social function. Mom is there, kids are there contained = time to check. I personally would never do it but I can see some moms taking advantage of any spare minute to do so. Thank you!

PS I will also take this opportunity to plug a really effective product called "LiceMD" if you do have to treat your kids. It is a clear non-toxic gel that you put on dry hair and leave on for 10 minutes. The lice are smothered and both lice/nits are easy to comb out. The ingredient is widely used in hair conditioners and this treatment works especally well on kids that have a lot of hair like mine do. Don't even bother with the Rid or other chemicals because the lice are very resistant to them these days.

Calling her place of work? I think that would be most inappropriate. You should to take a communicable disease or health education course that includes lice discussion. I did last year and learned alot. Lice does not transmit unless heads actually touch for several minutes. The eggs and bugs need a living host to survive, bugs will die shortly after being taken off a host, they depend on the body heat to survive. You do not get them from sharing hats, etc...they need a living host and would not leave a host to live on a pillow or hat:) All the pillow vacuuming and bagging etc is just an almost unnecessary precaution. Only HEAT, like in a clothes dryer, and POISON, like in Lice shampoo, and hands on REMOVAL get rid of lice. Lice don't jump, they crawl. Lice is not life-threatening. She may have been picking out dead nits after treatment killed them. Most public school districts nowadays don't even have a policy about children needing to stay home, it is the parents that make that decision.