My daughter felt itchy on Friday and went to the school nurse and the nurse did a lice check on her and didn't see any signs of lice.
I didn't think much of it and figured she was all clear since the nurse checked her and the nurse has probably seen many cases of lice and would know what to look for, etc.
Well yesterday (Sat. evening) my daughter calls me into the bathroom after her shower and showed me a little bug that she said was on her bath towel. I really combed through her hair with just a regular comb looking for any signs of lice and didn't see anything in her hair but did see some small pimples on her upper back. After looking on the internet - a red rash on the shoulders, back, etc. are a sign of lice and I felt pretty sure that the bug she showed me might be lice after looking at pics on the internet.
Today we used some tea tree oil and vinegar throughout her hair and combed through it with the plastic lice combs. Then put on some coconut conditioner for about 30 minutes.
We also went out and bought one of the lice wire combs since I read they are even better than the plastic and they do comb through better.
I had her wet her hair down and put some more coconut conditioner in for about 5 minutes then rinsed and I used the wire lice comb to go through her hair again.
I only saw a few specks of white (maybe hair product residue).
If she did have lice would I see lots of white nits and maybe even some lice? Wouldn't it be pretty obvious?
Since the school nurse didn't see any signs of lice should I feel pretty comfortable with her probably not having lice?
Or could she still have it even if the nurse didn't see any signs.
Thanks in advance- Oh and if there are any tricks that you've learned about dealing with this - I'm all ears :-)
My kids had it once. We used the OTC lice shampoo and a metal nit comb and followed the instructions on the shampoo. Changed the sheets and pillow cases, combed through every day and used the shampoo again a week later. Lice were gone and they have never had them again. It really wasn't a big deal.
We have dealt with lice 4 times. On my daughter, I can easily see it. On my son, I can't see it at all. The only way I find it on him is with the comb, so the school nurse with her popsicle stick and bright light would never find it. The combs don't work if the hair is dry - it needs to be very wet, and after you comb, you wipe the comb on a wet towel. You found a louse. Typically you don't find that unless there is a fairly strong infestation. Not sure what other evidence you are looking for. A rash and a live bug? That's lice. I wouldn't be waiting for more signs.
It's very possible to have lice and not have any readily visible nits. You won't see actual bugs unless the infestation is severe - those suckers are fast and as soon as you part the hair they've moved. Some salons will look for you to tell you if she has lice, some won't but some will, it's worth a try. School nurse missed lice on my son, salon stylist found it.
Throw away the plastic comb. It is worthless. Buy a Terminator comb. Comb daily for at least 2 weeks following the directions exactly. Make sure you wash or bag all bedding, stuffed animals, pillow, anything she puts her head on (don't forget the car seats if they're cloth, you can buy spray at the drug store for those).
Many years ago the children I babysat had lice. I was young and at the sight of it I freaked out and called my mom (lol). The girl was of mixed race and had tight braids in her hair, but I could see the lice in there.
I did everything I could to help the situation. The parents bought the lice shampoo kit, cleaned, washed in hot water, vacuumed, bagged stuffies, retreated. Then, a few weeks later I had it. I was pregnant and called the OBGYN. The nurse said that she used to work in the pediatricians office and the kids would have recurring cases-parents were using otc lice kits. She said they recommended mayonnaise with a bag over it for 30 mins, then the traditional wash and comb out. Worked like a charm. I've used it several times since even if I only suspect-can't hurt, right?
I've also read scholarly articles about the effective ss of coconut oil and anise oil.
Sounds like you've done everything right so far. Hope it was a false alarm. The coconut oil should help if it's dry scalp. :)
Please go to headlice.org and check out the pictures.
It truly sounds like, to me, that you'd have seen a lot of bugs in the comb out if she actually was infested. If you have a magnifying glass wet her hair down again then section it off and use the comb to go through pieces about 1 inch square. Keep the hair wet though. If you see white nits that means babies have been born. That nit is useless. It's in the past. If the center of the nit is dark it's a baby inside. It needs to be slid down the hair shaft and into a glass of water. They breathe air like we do.
The magnifying glass will help you see the hair follicles much easier and any movement will show up more.
If you don't want to use the lice shampoos, then use mayonnaise. A friend of mine did them both - it took 2 treatments. Apparently that happens a lot. But I'm not sure I would do the chemicals without any sure evidence of lice. If she does have them, you have a lot of work ahead of you - bedding and hats and towels and so on, hot water.
I think you would see them along the shaft of the hair. Look near the nape of the neck and along the hair line. There should be pictures in the lice product you buy.
Good luck - I know you don't need this, but it also doesn't sound like you have sure evidence either.
