Parents are resorting to extreme measures to get rid of head lice.

Nits.

Itchy, scratchy, wiggly, squirmy, blood sucking mites breeding and reproducing and inhabiting the heads of our once flawless little children, turning them into vermin infested creatures.

It is estimated that 25% of primary school children have nits at any one time. Tiny two millimetre monsters digging their claws into the scalps of our offspring, devouring their blood and laying at least six to eight eggs a day to help reinforce their populations.

25% of primary school children have nits at any one time. Image via IStock.

It's no wonder they are so bloody hard to get rid of.

Once they’ve invaded your territory it can seem almost impossible to get rid of them. You try lotions and creams, combs and expensive little electric zapping machines that claim to zap the little buggers before they can drink another drop of your blood.

But they just keep on coming back.

So you can just about empathise with desperate parents who are resorting to dog and cat tick and flea treatments in any attempt, any attempt to get rid of nits and lice for good.

Paulina Porras, manager of Cheltenham head lice treatment clinic Don’t Bug Me, in Melbourne has told The Leader that she had seen many parents using what she says are “weird, wacky and downright dangerous treatment methods.”

Even over-the-counter dog and cat flea and tick treatment products such as Frontline and Revolution.

“We’ve had many people come in and tell us they’ve used pet products like flea and tick remover,” Ms Porras said.

“I’ve had mums shave their heads because they don’t have anyone to comb their hair.

“We’ve heard a bit of everything — Listerine, mayonnaise, Mortein, kerosene and petrol.”

The world has been invaded by a species of super mutant nits. Image via IStock.

Just a few months ago the world was shocked to the core to learn that we are under threat by a mutated species of super lice.

The mutant super lice are making homes in heads around the world. They're unable to be stopped as they have become resistant to all forms of treatment – even most popular over-the-counter remedies.

A study published recently in The Journal of Medical Entomology found that common over-the-counter insecticides such as permethrin used to be up to 100 per cent effective in killing the parasites when it was introduced in 1984 but now researchers have found 98.3 per cent of the lice have a mutation meaning the lotions and sprays and shampoos are virtually useless.

Turns out we are powerless to the little suckers.

Monash Children’s Hospital head of paediatrics Dr Catherine McAdam told The Leader she too had heard of parents using kerosene and flea and tick treatments. She reminds parents that these treatments could be extremely dangerous.

Recent studies have shown the best treatment is the old fashioned conditioner and comb method, the cheaper the conditioner the better.

The key is getting your bug-infested offspring to sit still long enough.