New 'Super Lice' Resistant To Some Common Treatments

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The creepy parasite that we all know is getting stronger.

A mutated lice, dubbed super lice, is making headlines after showing resistance to over-the-counter shampoos and products.

Heath officials say it's now in 25 states, including some of our neighbors, like Ohio and Maryland.

Pennsylvania is not currently on the list of problem states, but in 2013 a local doctor confirmed she was seeing about 10 cases a month of resistant cases.

Dr. Sky Izaddoost, a San Antonio physician who is seeing a lot of resistant cases, says over-the-counter products will work on some of the lice but not all.

"If one of them survives, they have the potential of making more," Dr. Izaddoost told our sister station KENS.

Local teacher Stefanie Laborda says it's typical to see around three outbreaks of lice a year at the school where she works. Laborda says lice that are resistant to regular treatments could be a problem.

"Kids are going to be missing more school, maybe," says Laborda who added that children need to stay home until treatment for lice is complete.

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