JEDDAH: The family of a woman mental patient at a hospital here has claimed that her hair turned hard and unruly after being treated for lice with a chemical substance.

According to a report Friday by an online publication, the family said a probe has been launched into the claims.

The sister of the woman said she had been taken to the hospital three months ago.

It was during this period that lice was found in the hair of some patients, which prompted the nursing staff to provide treatment with a chemical solution.

The family claimed that the woman’s hair was once soft and had subsequently turned hard and full of tangles after the treatment.

“Her hair became very hard and so tight and full of knots that we could not comb it even using water or oil. We were concerned and thought that there

was some bad magic in her hair. We were even scared to touch her hair,” the sister was quoted as saying.

She said they initially refused to allow the hospital to cut her hair, but when it could not be combed out, they eventually agreed to have her head shaved.

They then lodged a complaint about hygiene at the hospital.

Nawaf Al-Harthi, director of the mental hospital, said that an investigation was underway. If there was any negligence uncovered, the perpetrators would be punished, he said.