Mind your head: Washington lice develop pesticide resistance

Jacob Nierenberg

Jacob Nierenberg Jun 21, 2025

Jan 12, 2018

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                <h1>Mind your head: Washington lice develop pesticide resistance</h1>
                <h2><p>Head lice are a common childhood nuisance, affecting some 12 million kids per year. Unfortunately, that problem has been getting worse, as the continued use of pyrethroids — formerly an effective way of treating lice — has led to some of the little nits developing a resistance to it; these bugs then</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/jacob-nierenberg-crosscut-com/">Jacob Nierenberg</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Jan 12, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>Head lice are a common childhood nuisance, affecting some 12 million kids per year. Unfortunately, that problem has been getting worse, as the continued use of pyrethroids — formerly an effective way of treating lice — has led to some of the little nits developing a resistance to it; these bugs then pass their immunity on to their offspring. And, as <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/bad-bugs-states-lice-now-highly-resistant-to-common-cures/?ref=avalancheghost.one">The Seattle Times reports</a>, these “super lice” have come to Washington. If you do have lice, the advice is: Don’t be alarmed; lice aren't a public health threat or a sign of poor hygiene. That said, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or pediatrician for treatment in the form of prescription lotions.</p>
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Head lice are a common childhood nuisance, affecting some 12 million kids per year. Unfortunately, that problem has been getting worse, as the continued use of pyrethroids — formerly an effective way of treating lice — has led to some of the little nits developing a resistance to it; these bugs then pass their immunity on to their offspring. And, as The Seattle Times reports, these “super lice” have come to Washington. If you do have lice, the advice is: Don’t be alarmed; lice aren't a public health threat or a sign of poor hygiene. That said, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or pediatrician for treatment in the form of prescription lotions.

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By Jacob Nierenberg

Jacob Nierenberg is an editorial intern at Crosscut. He has lived in Washington for nearly all of his life, and still proudly identifies with the Pacific Northwest despite his relocation to Stanford U