MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It’s one of the last things you want to deal with when sending your child back to school, but head lice remains an issue.
This year, it’s an even bigger threat.
Fourth grader Alexandra Rice already fought the lice battle.
“It just kept itching,” she said. “My head was burning and I didn’t know about it at the time.”
She’s scared of getting it again since the memories are still strong.
“Everybody wouldn’t get near me because they thought it was contagious,” said Rice.
But this year, it’s even worse and is now being dubbed as, “mutant super lice.”
“When people hear the word mutant, they automatically think of Sci-Fi movies and mutant head lice typically refers to head lice that are resistant to most of our first line treatments,” said Dr. David Piper with Baptism Memoral Hospital.
Which means parents have to dig deeper into their wallets to get rid of the pest.
Over the counter medicines won’t be as effective.
“The treatments for the more resistant head lice are very expensive,” said Dr. Piper.
It can cost hundreds of dollars if you’re uninsured or your insurance won’t cover it.
And the treatments aren’t always pleasant.
“You have to leave it on for a long time,” said Dr. Piper of one treatment. “It smells pretty bad.”
Doctors recommend being on guard and educating your kids on what not to do in the classroom.
“Tell the children not to wear other kids hats,” said Dr. Piper. “If you’re at a school where there’s been head lice, especially when children are taking naps, not to share their blankets.”
The good news is you do need to have direct contact for it to spread.
Your child won’t get it from simply being in the same room as someone else who has it.
But if they do get it another way, act fast and keep them home until it’s under control and they’re itch-free.
“It felt great,” said Rice of when her lice was gone.
