///good point, gawd knows what's living in there and yes probably (my italics) the kid himself is being used by attention seeking parents to get their 15mins///
a. There is absolutely no reason why, or evidence that, dreadlocks should be any dirtier than other hairstyles (apart from the suspicion/distrust of those who shudder or disapprove of them);
b. you have no evidence apart from your own belief (reasons suggested above) that the parents are seeking fame/notoriety/money.