What If I Can Not Get Rid Of Head Lice?

What If I Can Not Get Rid Of Head Lice?

Like germs that are resistant to antibiotics, some lice also develop resistance to the medicine used to kill them. Resistance tends to be scattered. It may be present in one neighborhood, but not another. However, there are many reasons why medications may seem not to work.

• Misdiagnosis of a head lice infestation. A diagnosis can be made if a person has crawling bugs on the head or many lice eggs within 1/4 inch (about the width of your little finger) of the scalp. Nits found on the hair shaft further than 1/4 inch from the scalp have already hatched. Treatment is not recommended for people who only have nits further than 1/4 inch away from the scalp.
  
  
• Not following treatment instructions fully. Common problems include:

1. making the hair too wet with water before applying a pediculicide — this dilutes the pediculicide
2. using a creme rinse or conditioner shampoo before applying a pediculicide — this interferes with the medication
3. failure to leave the pediculicide on long enough — follow drug label instructions
4. re-shampooing the hair again immediately after applying the pediculicide — don’t rewash hair for 1-2 days after treatment
5. inadequate amount of medication — extra long hair may require two bottles of pediculide to fully wet the hair
6. not combing. Using medication alone may not be enough to cure a head lice infestation. Combing the hair to remove lice and eggs has been shown to help.

Should my pets be treated for head lice?

No. Head lice do not live on pets.

• Medication not working at all (resistance). If head lice medication does not kill any crawling bugs within 24 hours, then resistance is likely. If the medication kills some of the bugs or the bugs are twitching 24 hours after treatment then resistance to medication is probably not occurring.
  
  
• Medication kills crawling bugs, but is not able to penetrate the eggs. It is very difficult for head lice medication to penetrate the nit shell. Medication may effectively kill crawling bugs, but may not treat the nits. This is why follow-up treatment is recommended.
  
  
• New infection. You can get infested more than once with head lice. Children often get re-infested from a playmate. If your child is infested, discuss it with parents of the children your child plays with. Treating all infested children at the same time will help prevent re-infestation.