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Head lice: an ancient tradition
Filed under: Preschoolers, Health & Safety: Babies, In The News, Day Care & Education
About a year ago, my sister's four-year-old came home from school with head lice. Unfortunately, before my sister discovered it, it had spread to the next door neighbor's kid. Even though head lice is a fairly common childhood problem that is treatable and not dangerous, you would have thought she was spreading the plague. The mother of the child next door was furious with my sister and to this day, will not allow her daughter to play with my niece.
Head lice can be traumatic, but for those who suffer, maybe it is somewhat comforting to know that it has been bugging people for over 100,000 years. Genetic tests of head lice taken from 1,000-year-old mummies in Peru support the theory that the bugs we see today are nearly identical to those that humans carried out of Africa all those years ago.
"It tells us that this genetic type got around the globe right as humans spread and migrated around the globe," said David Reed of the University of Florida, who worked on the study. He says that using gene sequencing of lice, human migrations all over the world can be tracked and dated.
So, if your kid should come home with some unwelcome guests in his or her hair, just remember: it's not shameful, it's an ancient tradition! And here's how to get rid of it.
Head lice can be traumatic, but for those who suffer, maybe it is somewhat comforting to know that it has been bugging people for over 100,000 years. Genetic tests of head lice taken from 1,000-year-old mummies in Peru support the theory that the bugs we see today are nearly identical to those that humans carried out of Africa all those years ago.
"It tells us that this genetic type got around the globe right as humans spread and migrated around the globe," said David Reed of the University of Florida, who worked on the study. He says that using gene sequencing of lice, human migrations all over the world can be tracked and dated.
So, if your kid should come home with some unwelcome guests in his or her hair, just remember: it's not shameful, it's an ancient tradition! And here's how to get rid of it.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
2-11-2008 @ 2:59PM
Heather said...This is such a coincidence! I discovered a small bug bite on my daughter's leg last week and seeing how we live in a wooded area of Florida it's not uncommon. However, last night I noticed she was furiously scratching her leg and when I looked I saw a huge red circle. Never having seen ringworm before I somehow immediately knew that's what it was. However, I wondered how in the world would my child get ringworm? Apparently in the preschool sandbox...or at least that's what our pediatrician suspects. He didn't seem that concerned or that it was anything unusual, but somehow I feel guilty because she's been around many other children since what I thought to be a bug bite appeared. I am concerned that I will have some very irritated friends, but I'll be sure to remind them of all the runny noses, coughs, and sneezes they have passed along to my little one.
Reply
2-11-2008 @ 3:03PM
Amanda said...that neighbor needs to get over herself! I'm quite sure her precious child had spread colds and other germs to her classmates! head lice is no different. it is annoying and a pain in the rear to get rid of but....you can GET RID OF IT!
Reply
2-11-2008 @ 7:04PM
ame s said...Indeed!
Someone's child passed strep on to my older daughter last month, and type B flu to her last March. Children share more than toys!
My girls contracted (is that the correct term?) lice 4 winters ago. It was tedious, time consuming work to get all those nits out of the waist-length, thick hair of a 4 and 6 year old.
Get over it, That neighbor, at least children aren't giving each other polio or the plague.
3-25-2008 @ 3:31PM
Barry Graner said...A comment from our Dr on how to protect your child from head lice when there is an outbreak in the daycare or school class room is to...
Put your childs hair up into a bun and spray it
"Heavy" with Hair Spray.
Don't know if it works or not.
But will do so if the time comes that I need to.
Hope this tip helps someone.
Barry
Reply