IMPACT OF HEAD LICE

The Social & Economic Burden

At the first sign of a live, crawling louse in their child's hair, parents may want answers. What is this? Who gave it to my child?¹³

In reality, it can be difficult to find the original source. Just finding the insect is probably enough to make parents rush to the nearest drugstore to seek treatment. As a result of no-nit policies, schools may not allow a child to return until they are lice-free.¹⁴

In the United States, social stigmas associated with head lice have subjected both children and their families to a number of feelings, mostly anxiety and embarrassment.¹

Time to attack the stigma, too
Completely eradicating the occurrence of infestation may be impossible. Overcoming the social stigma isn't. To do so patients, families and the surrounding community should be made aware of the facts.¹³

Family members need to understand that head lice infestation is not the result of un-cleanliness. Children and parents should understand that they have done nothing wrong to contract head lice and that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Get more on the truth here.

When treatment fails
Sometimes, despite parents' best efforts to get rid of lice, currently available treatments just don't work. Treatment failure may be due, in part, to:

Inappropriate use of products
Non-compliance (not following labeling instructions)
Resistance to some products
Re-infestation (lice acquired after treatment)
Product formulations that lack a killing effect on lice

The rise of resistance

In recent years resistance to certain products has become more common. Resistance has been shown to occur with the use of over-the-counter and some prescription pediculicidal products.¹

There may be two primary reasons for resistance in the United States:¹

Subtle changes in product formulations over time
An increasing development of pesticide resistance

Other factors contributing to resistance may include:

A hardy resilience²
Lice are able to survive without oxygen for long periods of time. After being drenched in insecticides or other agents, lice can revive themselves and continue to be viable.

Using treatment as prophylaxis¹
In an effort to relieve anxiety and protect their other children from infestation, parents may treat each child, regardless of whether lice are present.

Knockdown resistance (kdr) frequency
Permethrin is a substance contained in several over-the-counter products used to treat head lice. Studies have shown the kdr gene has made head lice resistant to permethrin. KDR results from a three-point mutation of a gene that makes head lice less sensitive to permethrin.¹⁵ Research being conducted on kdr frequency strongly supports the claim that treatment failure is largely the result of resistance.¹⁶

The importance of getting healthcare professionals involved

When patients and families have access to over-the-counter products, healthcare professionals are sometimes overlooked. What families may not understand is that many over-the-counter products may be ineffective if not used according to label instructions. As a result, parents may feel the need to re-treat the problem before ever contacting a healthcare professional. In the long run, this may actually increase the cost associated with treatment and potentially promote resistance to certain products.¹⁷

When it comes down to cost¹⁷

On average, patients may self-treat up to 5 times before seeking a healthcare professional's advice
The indirect and direct costs associated with treatment are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year
Indirect costs may be related to children missing school as a result of "no-nit" policies and caregivers missing work, resulting in lost wages

Learn more about current treatment options