Over-the-Counter Lice Treatment May No Longer Be Strong Enough For New Outbreaks

Kids and parents have long been familiar with the pains of head lice, but by and large, it's known to be a fairly easy-to-treat annoyance. Now, however, lice and other pests are growing increasingly resistant to the active chemical in most over-the-counter medicines. The research team at Southern Illinois University discovered this stubborn strain, which has spread to at least 25 states.

According to assistant professor Kyong Yoon, lice have mutated in a way that make them less responsive to pyrethroids in OTC medications. Although that doesn't necessarily mean that the parasites can't die, a stronger dose will be necessary.

At the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society, Yoon reported that among the 109 lice samples collected, a shocking 104 were found to be highly resistant.

How do we treat the schoolyard bug? According to pediatric dermatologist Dr. Robin Gehris, the common "olive oil, mayonnaise, Vaseline" home remedy is not recommended. Gehris told Today there's no evidence that the DIY solutions school nurses have long recommended are working. She said she still believes OTC treatments "work much of the time," despite it being less potent now. What parents need to remember, though, is to reapply five to seven days later to prevent eggs from rehatching. If all else fails, Gehris recommends seeing your pediatrician for a prescription that lice haven't yet outgrown.

Moral of the story: be sure to take extra precautions before sending your kids back to school this Fall, especially now that infected students are to remain in class.