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Heads Up, Parents, It's Lice Season!
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 12, 2008
Modified Sep 12, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 12, 2008
Modified Sep 12, 2008
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Have you seen this parasite sucking blood from your child's head? Not yet maybe, but be vigilant. While there's no major lice outbreak to report in the city's schools so far, there's still reason to be afraid, because the critters are becoming immune to insecticides used in prescription and over the counter lice treatments. In fact, lice experts tell the Daily News it takes just three to five years for lice to adapt to a new product.
Some products still work some of the time, but parents mustn't hold back on the nitpicking! (For those who didn't know, this is where that word—often used to describe weblog commenters—comes from: nits are the 1/16 inch long louse eggs.) Though a Department of Education spokesperson insists the number of children with lice remains below the average 5% mark, we're curious if you've recently picked any nits from your kids' heads. Also, does anyone reading this actually have offspring?
Parents, have you seen this parasite sucking blood from your child's head? Not yet maybe, but be vigilant. While there's no major lice outbreak to report in the city's schools so far, there's still reason to be afraid, because the critters are becoming immune to insecticides used in prescription and over the counter lice treatments. In fact, lice experts tell the Daily News it takes just three to five years for lice to adapt to a new product.
Tagged
cure
get rid of
head
immunity
kill
lice
louse
new york city
nits
nyc
parasites
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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