Over-the-counter Medicine Cannot Kill Super Lice

Leeda.the.Paladin

Well-Known Member


A strain of "super lice" that is resistant to over-the-counter treatments has been reported in 25 states. Here's what you need to know about the outbreak and how you can protect your children:

What are super lice?
Super lice, like regular lice, are parasitic insects that can live in the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes of humans and feed on blood. Due to a genetic mutation, super lice are resistant to pyrethroids, the family of insecticides contained in common over-the-counter treatments used to kill lice.

Where are super lice a problem?
A national study found the treatment-resistant lice in 25 states in the U.S.



How do super lice spread?
Much like regular lice, super lice are spread by direct contact with the hair of an infested person, the CDC reports. Head lice move by crawling and cannot hop or fly. Lice can also spread by sharing clothing or hair accessories recently worn or used by a person with lice, although this is less common. Dogs, cats and other pets cannot spread head lice.

How do you know if your child has super lice?
The symptoms of head lice include the feeling of something moving in the hair, an itchy scalp, irritability and difficulty sleeping. The only difference between regular lice and super lice infestation is the response to treatment. If your child still has lice after a complete over-the-counter treatment, they may be infested with a resistant strain.

How are lice and super lice treated?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents and caregivers use over-the-counter treatments unless resistance has been confirmed in other cases in the community. Instructions on the package should be followed exactly and all clothing, linens and toys used by the infected person should be washed in hot water or dry cleaned. If the lice are treatment-resistant, a pediatrician can prescribe another form of treatment that has been proven effective against super lice.

How are lice and super lice prevented?
Because head lice spread so easily in schools, playgrounds and daycares they are difficult to prevent. The AAP recommends teaching children not to share hats, combs or other items that come in contact with hair. Children should also be checked for lice if there is an outbreak in their school – even if they aren’t complaining of itching
 

DarkJoy

Bent. Not Broken.
The reason bp dont usually get it is because we put product in our hair. Lice dont like things like leave ins, grease, or Shea butter, gel or evoo. Lol.

My dd caught it from school last year because I neglected to put extra product in her hair. Imagine the hours combing those bastards out of waist length curly hair :nono:

And its not just the hair. You got to continuously sterilize everything : bed linens, toys, towels. Stuffed animals have to be secured away in plastic bags to starve them out for a cpl weeks. Annoying af!

I dont forget now. She gets some leave in AND gel AND oil throughout the week. Lol.
 

FlowerHair

Reclaiming my time
Really?? Yikes. They sent a note home with DD saying that they had a few cases in her class...
Yep. It seems many kids here get it every fall, but DS only got it once.

I thought only white people get lice?
No, I had it when I was a kid and DS had it. My hair is a 3c, but I admit that his hair is perhaps a 2a/b.

There are also different types of lice, the lice here seem to love long straight hair. Since most of us don't have long straight hair, perhaps less of us get them? I think it may have to do with hair care products too. Neither I nor my son use anything heavy on our hair.

On the other hand, my nephew had lice for a long time (undetected) and I used to put him to bed and read stories to him lying on his pillow regularly for months and I never got it.
 

BillsBackerz67

Well-Known Member
Where's the original link to this story. My friends daughter caught live 3 times in the past 2 years. I want to send her this.
 

Ann0804

Member
All the oil we put in our hair. I haven't heard of anyone with type 4 hair having lice. Must be in the homes of mixed families cause all the black folks I know never got this ish. Even in school it was never us. I don't believe this ish. Not claiming this at all.
 
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