“Super lice” found in RI, Mass. samples

By Rebecca Turco

rturco@abc6.com

They’re calling it "super lice" – a strain of head lice that doesn’t react to common treatments like shampoos.

Jeremy Pavao of Lice Clinics of America says, "Lice can become resistant."

Researchers gathering lice samples found that 25 out of 30 states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, had lice with these genetic mutations.

"What’s spreading lice is hats, heads together, clothes, helmets…"

Pavao says parents are worried, especially with schools starting up again soon.

Pavao says he has a solution to this mutant lice.

First, he uses this FDA-cleared device, which blows out air, dehydrating and killing the lice and their eggs. Step two – combing out the debris. And finally, special treatment shampoo.

14 year-old Molly Brown of West Warwick had the procedure done recently. "Anyone knowing you have bugs in your hair – it’s just scary."

She says she hasn’t had any problems since, but her family is on the lookout just in case.

Meanwhile, Pavao says the best thing parents can do is watch for itching and examine "hot spots."

"Behind the ears, the neckline, so if you see anything that looks almost like pepper in the hair, they would be flakes."

As many as 12 million school children get lice each year.

(C) WLNE-TV 2015