Is it Lice … or Super Lice?

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AREFA CASSOOBHOY
There's a new super bug in town trying to take over our kids' heads. Well, at least their hair. It's "super lice," and they are on the rise.

Thanks to a genetic mutation, super lice are resistant to the treatments you can buy over the counter. But they can still be killed by prescription medicines. Here's how to find out if they are super lice.

Start with an over the counter shampoo, lotion, or cream.

Use the lice comb that comes with the kit to help get them out of your child's hair.

Check back 12 hours later and see if there are any lice. If so, they might be super lice, and it's time to step up the fight. Call your doctor and get a prescription.

If they're gone, don't celebrate just yet. Recheck your child's hair every few days for two weeks. Oftentimes, they'll need a second treatment. And that's true of prescription medicine as well.

Also, wash their clothes, linens, and anything else they've come into contact with in hot water and dry on high heat. For things that can't be washed, like stuffed animals, put them in an airtight plastic bag for two weeks.

Use these tips to become your kid's superhero and super lice's archnemesis.

For WebMD, I'm Dr. Arefa Cassoobhoy.