It is not a turtle, nor is it teenaged, but it's as sneaky as a mutant - mutant head lice infesting 25 states in the US. New studies have revealed that head lice have developed resistance or immunity to treatments presently prescribed by doctors. Kyong Yoon, an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University, and John Marshall Clark, director of the Massachusetts Pesticide Analysis Laboratory and professor at the University of Massachusetts, presented initial results from their study on mutant lice at a conference of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Boston on Tuesday.
"We are the first group to collect lice samples from a large number of populations across the U.S.," says Kyong Yoon, Ph.D. "What we found was that 104 out of the 109 lice populations we tested had high levels of gene mutations, which have been linked to resistance to pyrethroids."
The squad collected lice samples from 30 states then found that 25 states had lice with genetic mutations termed "knock-down resistance" or KDR mutations that have been identified to help certain insects, including house flies to endure insecticides like Pyrethoids, Pyrethoids are a family of insecticides used extensively indoors and outdoors to regulate mosquitoes and most insects. It contains permethrin, the active ingredient in some of the most common lice treatments vended at drug stores.
"If you use a chemical over and over, these little creatures will eventually develop resistance," Yoon said in a statement. "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."
However, parents are alarmed and upset of this, Renee Wilson, manager of Hair Fairies Salon, which has locations in the California, told CBS Chicago that parents are "upset" and "stressed out" because the over-the counter treatments don't work.
"They just want to give up," Wilson said. "If that bug is crawling around the head and then someone is giving hugs, sharing hairbrushes, or by that person, that bug can transfer like that."
So the question is what you should do to stop and prevent it?
We need to ensure the cleanliness of the surroundings and if there is any case of lice infestation, use the in-home treatment prescribed by doctors. If the in-home treatments don't work, consult your doctor who may prescribe a stronger treatment.
No matter how you are treating head lice, you need to treat and clean these following items in your home: brushes and combs, bedding and towels, stuffed animals, pillows and other personal items like hair accessories, helmets and headphones; also make sure to vacuum furniture, carpets and floors.
Photo: Giles San Martin | Flickr