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‘Super Lice’ Plaguing Some Schools
A new form of “super lice” affecting school children has adults looking for answers on how to get rid of them.
Lice Treatment Losing Effectiveness
Lice, a problem common to elementary schools and day care centers, are getting a little tougher to handle. Over the years, they’ve grown increasingly resistant to the pesticide shampoos used to eliminate them, prompting some people to call them “super lice.”
“Super lice” are nothing new, Arizona “Lice Lady” Michele Earl told KTAR.com. Earl, who runs a lice shampoo and comb-out service, said the pesticide shampoos used to treat lice have been around for 30 to 40 years, giving the bugs plenty of time to adapt and become more immune to treatments. In fact, Earl estimated that shampoos today are about 50 percent effective.
Fall is an especially common time to see a lice outbreak, according to the New York Daily News. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that between 6 and 12 million kids get head lice a year.
Dr. Eric Siegel, a dermatologist, recommends coating a child’s hair in the thickest hair gel possible and then have the child sleep overnight in a tight-fitting shower cap to get rid of lice. Leaving mayonnaise or vegetable oil in a child’s hair for a few hours can also alleviate the problem. This type of treatment suffocates the bugs.
Experts say it’s also important for adults to make sure they follow the instructions on lice treatments carefully. Following a treatment, they must perform a nitpicking session, and then treat for lice again several days later.
“Super lice” are nothing new, Arizona “Lice Lady” Michele Earl told KTAR.com. Earl, who runs a lice shampoo and comb-out service, said the pesticide shampoos used to treat lice have been around for 30 to 40 years, giving the bugs plenty of time to adapt and become more immune to treatments. In fact, Earl estimated that shampoos today are about 50 percent effective.
Fall is an especially common time to see a lice outbreak, according to the New York Daily News. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that between 6 and 12 million kids get head lice a year.
Dr. Eric Siegel, a dermatologist, recommends coating a child’s hair in the thickest hair gel possible and then have the child sleep overnight in a tight-fitting shower cap to get rid of lice. Leaving mayonnaise or vegetable oil in a child’s hair for a few hours can also alleviate the problem. This type of treatment suffocates the bugs.
Experts say it’s also important for adults to make sure they follow the instructions on lice treatments carefully. Following a treatment, they must perform a nitpicking session, and then treat for lice again several days later.
Reference: Types of lice; lice prevention
The CDC describes lice as “parasitic insects” found on a person’s body. There are three types of lice: head lice, body lice and pubic lice (also known as “crab” lice). Unhatched eggs are called “nits.” Check the CDC Web site for lice detection, prevention and treatment information.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
September is Head Lice Prevention Month, according to the National Pediculosis Association. The organization advises parents to tell their children to speak up if they have an itchy scalp (which can be a sign of a lice infestation), and to let kids know that it’s important for them to use their own equipment, such as headphones and helmets, to avoid catching lice from someone else.
Source: National Pediculosis Association
Related Topic: Avoiding germs at school
“Odds are your child will be bringing home more than homework this school year,” WebMD writes, but there are ways to avoid picking up some of the bugs that are common in the classroom. Washing hands frequently, and for at least 20 seconds during each washing, is one of the largest deterrents to getting sick. Using mechanical pencils instead of pencils that need to be sharpened can also make a big difference. Studies have found that community pencil sharpeners are often the dirtiest item in a classroom.
Source: WebMD: Germs in the School Room
Momlogic contributor and pediatrician Dr. Cara Natterson says parents “can’t stop the world when someone in your house gets sick,” but points out that kids who look tired or rundown, or who have a fever or frequent cough, should stay home from school to prevent passing an illness on to others.
Source: Momlogic
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