NEWS

'Super lice' are in Iowa. Here's how to treat them.

Lauren Ehrler

lehrler@dmreg.com

A study suggesting "super lice" have spread to Iowa and 47 other states may be frightening to some parents as their children prepare to head back to school, but officials from the Iowa Department of Health say it's no reason to panic.

Research published in Journal of Medical Entomology earlier this spring shows that head lice in a majority of U.S. states have grown resistant to over-the-counter medications often recommended by doctors to treat the irritating insects.

However, the descriptor "super" doesn't mean these lice are worse than your average louse, said Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, medical director for the Iowa Department of Health.

“These lice are no different than regular lice, they’ve just become resistant to some medications used to treat them," Quinlisk said.

Furthermore, despite new information in the study, Quinlisk is already familiar with the so-called super lice. She said she's seen treatment-resistant lice already in Iowa for "decades."

So what can parents do?

Step 1: Start with over-the-counter medications

Here are a few over-the-counter treatments commonly used to treat head lice. However, some "super lice" have become medication resistant.

If your child contracts lice, Quinlisk said over-the-counter medications, such as topical treatments like shampoos containing the chemical insecticides permethrin and pyrethrin, are the best course of action to begin with.

"Talk to your local physician or pharmacist," Quinlisk said. "They usually have a good idea of what works from community to community."

She said local healthcare professionals typically know what treatment has worked on local lice outbreaks based on feedback from past patients.

Step 2: Make sure you're following the regimen

A new strain of "super lice" has infested people across the nation, but they are still treatable. Combing through a child's hair to remove dead lice and eggs is part of the treatment process.

Quinlisk said that when medications don't initially work, it is usually because parents aren't following the treatment regimen correctly.

"You can find (a product) that works as long as you use it correctly," Quinlisk said.

For example, many parents don't realize that they have to treat the lice twice: First, you must kill the lice present. Then, you must treat the head again to kill any lice that have hatched since the first wash. The Iowa Department of Health recommends a 14-day treatment regimen. You can access the day-by-day guide here.

Step 3: You might need to try multiple products

If you're sure that you've followed the regimen and your child still has lice, you may need to switch to a product containing a different insecticide or another brand.

"Your lice might be resistant to Product A, that's when you try Product B," Quinlisk said. "I don't think I've ever heard of a lice resistant to every product on the market."

Topical treatments are the state's official public health recommendation, but if you still can't seem to get rid of the infestation, it may be time to talk to a doctor about a prescription medication.

Step 4: Take steps to prevent future lice infestation

Parents can teach their kids ways to prevent contracting head lice, like avoiding sharing hats and combs with friends.

For parents who hope they can avoid lice treatment regimens altogether, the best option is to teach your kids proper prevention methods.

“Teach your children not share hats, not to share combs," Quinlisk said. "You can play with your friends — just don’t put your heads together.”

However, if your child does get lice, Quinlisk stressed that children do not need to be held out of school while treatment is ongoing. Besides the itching, lice are not otherwise dangerous and don't carry any diseases in Iowa, she added. For more information on lice, refer to this fact sheet from the Iowa Department of Health.