SACRAMENTO–
Charles McGlory is desperate to get rid of the lice that have infested his daughter Jessica’s hair.
“We got a phone call about four days ago. They said she had a couple eggs in her hair,” McGlory said.
Four of his five kids currently have lice. Jessica is the first to be treated after several failed attempts to kill the insects at home.
“We tried Nix, we tried a lot of different treatments, and put shampoo, and they just don’t kill them,” McGlory said.
Doctors say recently lice have evolved into so-called “super lice,” which can survive traditional at-home remedies.
“The lice themselves have sort of built up a resistance to conventional over-the-counter treatments that most patients use for the treatments,” said Pediatrician Daniel McCrimons.
Dr. McCrimons says doctors can prescribe a cream to treat lice, and that people should always keep an eye out for the tiny eggs.
“It’s visible, it’s probably the size of a pinhead but its black and it’s visible, and you’ll see the six legs moving around and they’re attached to the shaft of the hair,” McCrimons said.
Larry Shield is the co-owner of Lice Clinics of America in Sacramento.
He’s been busy treating families like the McGlorys.
“I would say 90 percent of our clients have treated before they come to us,” Shield said.
The clinic offers a three-step process to kill lice eggs.
“So if I hold our dehydrator on your scalp for 30 seconds the heat is flowing slow enough and at the right temp that is dehydrates the eggs,” Shield said.
People with long straight hair are most likely to get lice.
To reduce your chances, reduce contact with people who have lice and also wash your shirts and jackets more frequently.
