WASHINGTON — Months after the American Chemical Society announced that at least half of the United States showed resistance to common lice treatments, a new remedy is available.
The mutant lice, first reported in August 2015, were said to have developed genetic mutations that make them less sensitive to traditional insecticides, such as pyrethroids.
Washington state was among the 25 states with lice that showed resistance.
Pyrethoids used to be 100 percent effective against head lice, but now only work in approximately 25 percent of cases, according to the American Chemical Society.
Stories about the resistant lice, known as “super lice,” started circulating online – as some states are experiencing active cases.
A new FDA-approved treatment that uses heated air and dehydrates the lice in just one session – could treat these resistant cases.
The catch: It is expensive, costing about $170.
The treatment may be covered by insurance. A map of states where super lice have been detected is available from the American Chemical Society.
Lice can still be controlled by using different chemicals, some of which are available only by prescription.
"If you use a chemical over and over, these little creatures will eventually develop resistance," Kyong Yoon, Ph.D., told the American Chemical Society.
“So we have to think before we use a treatment. The good news is head lice don’t carry disease. They’re more a nuisance than anything else.”
As for prevention, experts recommend not sharing items such as hair brushes, combs and hats. Children should be taught not to touch other people’s hair or head.