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How To Get Rid Of Recurring Head Lice?
Question: My boyfriends 3 daughters have had head lice for the last 3 weeks. We did the over the counter shampoo treatments 3 times and washed everything when they went back to their mothers house. She said the doctor gave each of them a pill to kill the lice. But after 2 weeks she said she it is normal for them to still have "dead eggs" or what she says they are still in their hair that she continues to comb out. Is that normal ? Shouldn't they be gone after this long? And is that all there is needed for the lice pill treatment?
Brief Answer:
Removal of Nits
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
Your Boyfriend's daughters have head lice and they have been treated with shampoo and an oral treatment. These treatments usually kill the live lice but do not kill the larva or nits. These are the little egg sacks on the hair. To truly eradicator the head lice you must comb out the hair and remove all the nits. Even one nit will restart the infestation. So I recommend a nit comb and comb their hair daily till all the nits are removed. You need a nit comb because a regular comb dose not have enough teeth to be fine enough to remove the nits.
In summary
1. nit comb
2. comb hair daily until all nits removed
I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns and questions
Removal of Nits
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
Your Boyfriend's daughters have head lice and they have been treated with shampoo and an oral treatment. These treatments usually kill the live lice but do not kill the larva or nits. These are the little egg sacks on the hair. To truly eradicator the head lice you must comb out the hair and remove all the nits. Even one nit will restart the infestation. So I recommend a nit comb and comb their hair daily till all the nits are removed. You need a nit comb because a regular comb dose not have enough teeth to be fine enough to remove the nits.
In summary
1. nit comb
2. comb hair daily until all nits removed
I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns and questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
If there are still eggs in their hair how would you know if they were dead eggs or not? And how long would you expect to still have them? also after the pill treatment is there any other treatment necessary?
Brief Answer:
Nits
Detailed Answer:
The little egg sacs look like little cups attached ti the hair. If the cups are clear then they are dead but if they are opaque then there is a live larva inside. The best thing to do is combing of the hair with a fine toothed comb. For boys recommend cutting the hair off completely but that would not be a good idea for girls.
I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns and questions
Nits
Detailed Answer:
The little egg sacs look like little cups attached ti the hair. If the cups are clear then they are dead but if they are opaque then there is a live larva inside. The best thing to do is combing of the hair with a fine toothed comb. For boys recommend cutting the hair off completely but that would not be a good idea for girls.
I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns and questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So I guess my biggest question is - shouldn't even the eggs be gone after two weeks after that pill if the combing with the special comb is being done every day? How long would they still have eggs in their hair if they were dead?
Brief Answer:
eggs are attached
Detailed Answer:
Even if the pill and treatments kill the eggs it is a good idea to still use the comb to be absolutely sure everything is gone. Despite the best of treatment some eggs will survive the treatment
eggs are attached
Detailed Answer:
Even if the pill and treatments kill the eggs it is a good idea to still use the comb to be absolutely sure everything is gone. Despite the best of treatment some eggs will survive the treatment
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
That doesn't really answer what I am asking. How long would you expect them to still be in the hair? And how long should you need to use the special comb. And if you are still seeing eggs what should you do next?
Brief Answer:
use the comb until no more nits
Detailed Answer:
The nits will stay attached to the hair for as long as the the hair is intact. They do not naturally just fall off. They must be combed out of the hair. You comb until you no longer see the nits. That is the best answer I can give.
use the comb until no more nits
Detailed Answer:
The nits will stay attached to the hair for as long as the the hair is intact. They do not naturally just fall off. They must be combed out of the hair. You comb until you no longer see the nits. That is the best answer I can give.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So the pill does not actually kill the eggs? Only the lice?
Brief Answer:
pill only kills live lice not the eggs
Detailed Answer:
Yes you are correct the pill only kills the live lice and not the eggs. I am sorry if I did not make myself clear earlier
pill only kills live lice not the eggs
Detailed Answer:
Yes you are correct the pill only kills the live lice and not the eggs. I am sorry if I did not make myself clear earlier
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi
thank you - so just to close this up then - the eggs remaining in their hair are most likely alive then? so they could still pass it and one of the other girls could get it again and we would have to do the shampoo and treatment and cleaning again? With the girls going back and forth between the households I want to make sure that we get this gone completely.
thanks
thank you - so just to close this up then - the eggs remaining in their hair are most likely alive then? so they could still pass it and one of the other girls could get it again and we would have to do the shampoo and treatment and cleaning again? With the girls going back and forth between the households I want to make sure that we get this gone completely.
thanks
Brief Answer:
Eggs are possibly alive
Detailed Answer:
Yes the possibility of recurrent infection with lice is high. That is why it is so important to treat and retreat until the lice and their nits are eradicated. It would alose be a good idea to wash all bedding and clothing. The lice can live in the clothes and bedding.
Eggs are possibly alive
Detailed Answer:
Yes the possibility of recurrent infection with lice is high. That is why it is so important to treat and retreat until the lice and their nits are eradicated. It would alose be a good idea to wash all bedding and clothing. The lice can live in the clothes and bedding.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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