'Super lice' outbreak hits half of America as strain is found to be resistant to most over-the-counter treatments

  • Strain of so-called super lice have hit 25 countries and are reportedly resistant to chemical in most over-the-counter treatments
  • Chemical called pyrethroids had 100 per cent success rate in 2000 but was only worked in 25 per cent of cases in 2013
  • States in which 100 percent of the tested lice were resistant include Illinois, Michigan, California, Texas and Arizona 

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: | Updated:

A strain of 'super lice' has hit half the country causing concern as the bugs reportedly cannot be killed with most over-the-counter treatments.

The chemical used in most treatments, pyrethroids, had a 100 per cent success rate in 2000, however in 2013 it was only effective in 25 per cent of cases, according to KSDK. 

The 25 States in which 100 percent of the tested lice were resistant include Illinois, Michigan, California, Texas and Arizona.

A strain of 'super lice' has hit half the country causing concern as the bugs reportedly cannot be killed with most over-the-counter treatments (file photo above)

A strain of 'super lice' has hit half the country causing concern as the bugs reportedly cannot be killed with most over-the-counter treatments (file photo above)

A new FDA-approved treatment, AirAllé, which costs about $170 takes about an hour and has reportedly been found to be effective against the bugs.

'We use heated air and we dehydrate the lice and the eggs in a single treatment,' Claire Roberts, CEO of Lice Clinics of America told KSDK. 'It takes about an hour, and we guarantee it.'

The treatment takes 30 minutes itself before a 30-minute-long post-treatment comb out to remove the dead lice and eggs followed by a post-treatment rinse, according to the company's website.

A new FDA-approved treatment, AirAllé, (shown above) which costs about $170 takes about an hour and has reportedly been found to be effective against the bugs

A new FDA-approved treatment, AirAllé, (shown above) which costs about $170 takes about an hour and has reportedly been found to be effective against the bugs

During the treatment, a trained AirAllé technician places the device's applicator tip under the hair and against the head moving its position every 30 seconds until the whole head is treated, according to the company.

The treatment may be covered by insurance, KDSK reported.

Kyong Yoon, an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, was part of the research team that initially discovered the new ultra-resistant strains, according to TODAY.

Yoon said the findings do not mean that you cannot kill the bugs with pyrethroids, noting that a higher dose will be needed.

Pediatric dermatologist Dr. Robin Gehris also told TODAY that despite the findings that over-the-counter treatments are somewhat less effective, they still work much of the time.

Above the states in red indicate 100 per cent of the tested lice were resistant; orange states indicate 50 to 90 per cent were resistant and yellow indicates one per cent to 49 per cent were resistant. Data for blue states has not been analyzed and white states have not been tested

Above the states in red indicate 100 per cent of the tested lice were resistant; orange states indicate 50 to 90 per cent were resistant and yellow indicates one per cent to 49 per cent were resistant. Data for blue states has not been analyzed and white states have not been tested

Gehris also noted that when using an over-the-counter treatment to make sure to apply it a second time five to seven days later and to leave the treatment on long enough.

While prescription medication and combing can still rid of lice, which cannot live without a blood supply after 24 hours, experts said the best treatment is prevention.

'Don't share hats, don't share hairbrushes,' Roberts told KDSK. 

'Try to avoid the actual contact with hair or another head. That's how the lice are transferred.'

Experts also noted that if your child gets lice, to vacuum particularly where hair might have fallen, to wash bedding in hot water and to put stuffed animals and clothing into a dryer for about 30 minutes.

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