Lice invade school
Yesterday, when I got home and while the kids were preparing to have a shower, I took a look at the notebooks and besides the information about a walk, was also the following missive: “We have noticed the existence of children with lice and nits in our school.”
We, parents with children attending school, have received this kind of notification with some frequency: I often jest that school is the paradise of lice.
This micro bug strolls from head to head when these come very close and lean during those group assignments, or, let’s face it: during those sessions of video or mobile phone games, and in playing, like the usual hairdressing salon.
Ah! And let’s not forget that habit of hanging more than one coat in one coat hanger…
I gathered my little kids in the bathroom. After asking if their heads were itching, I started looking for lice behind the ears and at the nape of the neck (the favorite sites of this bug). I did not find anything but, to make sure there were no lice or nits, I ran an appropriate comb (those with very fine teeth) through the hair of each child, to be more at peace.
Afterwards, and although there were no traces of invaders, I washed the kids’ hair with a preventive shampoo based on essential oils that works as a natural repellent.
Nowadays, there are products in the pharmacy to treat and prevent lice, you do not need to subject the kids to the traditional nasty vinegar bath.
During the bath, I explained to them the importance of not lending personal items such as clothes, hats, headphones, and why they should not lean their heads onto their friends’ heads.
At home, each one has their own brush, towel and his pillow: what one spends on extra clothes to wash is compensated in less probability of the lice spreading to all the kids.
While playing hide and seek in the bedrooms, I took the opportunity to check the sheets and pillows, to make sure there were no unwanted families.
The sofas, the kids’ seats and the car seats were also the object of an inspection and vacuuming. All this because it is enough for a single louse to survive for the plague to happen.
Clothes should be washed at 60º C and items that cannot be washed should be kept in a plastic bag for three days.
The next morning, when I went to drop them off at school, I talked to the teachers and realized that the messages sent home are not enough to solve this epidemic, and that the ideal situation would be for all parents to start treating their children at the same time.
I advised teachers, helpers and educators to always have their hair up in a bun or pony tail, because the likelihood of catching lice is lower.
Another IMPORTANT aspect is the need to also combat prejudice itself, because unlike humans, lice are not prejudiced and do not distinguish between dirty and washed heads.
The lice do not fly, they do not jump… but they can swim!
That is why it is so important to follow the swimming cap rule when going to the pool.
Another important point, when a louce appears, the whole family should do the treatment at the same time and follow it by the book.
And please let’s leave the prejudice aside and let the teachers know that yes, even our cuddly son got a little lice.
No one will interdict or put him/her in quarantine, and we can better take care of our children’s health.
So, I begin by saying: I, as a pharmacist, confess that I have spent a few afternoons and evenings exterminating lice from the heads of my children. There is a time (or several!) for everything in life.
And you know, in case of doubt ask your pharmacist 😉
