“Super Lice” Resist Almost All Drugs, Baseball Bats etc.

The head lice we remember fondly from childhood are back, with a vengeance. Scientists suggest that the bugs are becoming resistant to the most commonly used lice treatment, and that lice epidemics in middle schools will become more frequent. Shudder.

Brittany Ratcliff was horrified to find tiny parasites in her 5-year-old’s hair this week - and even more upset to discover that over-the-counter medications wouldn’t kill them because the bugs have grown resistant to the poison. “I’m a little traumatized,” said Ratcliff, “I was very grossed out by it.”

Lice mostly show up in kids, since the little buggies need head-to-head contact to travel, and adults don’t tend to pig-pile or headbutt each other quite as readily (or so we’ve heard.) If you aren’t a middle school teacher or parent, you’re probably out of danger, so don’t freak out if you feel itchy one day. It’s probably just dandruff or some exciting new form of head-herpes.

Learn what can be done to stop the super-lice madness, after the jump.

Don’t have kids.

HA! Just kidding. Kids are wonderful. Except for that Alison from 4th grade who gave us lice three times in one month. One. Freaking. Month. We were not allowed over to Alison’s much after that which was a shame, because she had the Barbie mansion…that bitch…

Back to super lice: they’re terrifying and gross.

“I have literally had parents scream on the other end of the phone,” said Burgin, the South Carolina school nurse.

Don’t get sad- get mad! Here’s how to fight them:

Old standbys:
Over the counter Nix and Rid are doctor’s favorites, and should still work on many lice.

Home remedies:
Nurses have recommended everything from smothering your head in mayo (or anything glutinous, to suffocate the lice) to just shaving all your hair off. Perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to use up that Costco guacamole you bought in bulk…

Natural remedies, for you dirty hippies:
Delacet is made of herbs, so that’s promising.
Licefree! says it smells nice.

Other than that, don’t panic- remember, we have much scarier things to worry about right now.

‘Super Lice’ Leave Parents Scratching Their Heads [NBC6]

Head lice becoming treatment resistant superbugs [ABC]