Pediculosis Capitis

There is pediculosis capitis in my school. Sounds bad, doesn't it? Well, it is! Pediculosis capitis is not spread from through coughing, sneezing, and germs. It's not passed from sharing drinks or food. It can pass without coming in contact with anybody. Because, you see, pediculosis capitis is the equivalent of what is commonly called head lice. 

Those nasty little critters can jump. They can jump as far as 3 feet. So, if you simply bend down near a person infested, you are at danger. Research shows that using an excessive amount of hairspray and/or gel helps protect from the lice getting into your hair. The hair spray acts like a shield. I imagine it somewhat like the shield Sonic the Hedgehog donned on the Sega Genesis. 

I figure I have a few options. I could wear a swim cap, a shower cap, or give myself an 80's over sprayed hairstyle. Neither would look too great, but would certainly protect me from those itchy little buggers. Although, provided my history, I may actually be immune to pediculosis capitis.

When I was fifteen, a very formidable year in a high schoolers life, my family visited from Florida. You may not know this, but in Florida, with the hot, moist air, head lice is very common. There is no stigma associated with getting it, because, well, everyone seems to get it at one point or another. My younger cousin, seven at the time, was just about my favorite house guest! She looked up to me, so she always wanted to wear my clothes. Of course, being the cool cousin that I was, and still am, I let her. I even scrunched my long, thin 15-year-old body into her 7-year-old clothes.

That's right, we traded clothes, hats and all. After my family went back to Florida, we got a frantic call from my aunt. My cousin had head lice. She had it while they were visiting. Head lice is something you absolutely cannot have in high school. I didn't know what to do. There was no way I could avoid it. I was wearing this kid's hat! And, she was wearing mine. She slept in my room and was attached at my hip.

My mother checked my head and didn't see any of those nasties in my hair. But, I felt itchy. So, to try to  ease my panic, we went and bought head lice shampoo. You have never felt so white trashy until you have to go to the drug store and buy head lice shampoo. Luckily, I never had a sign of it. The shampoo simply served as a security blanket.

With that, I am hoping I can luck out of the whole head lice scene unscathed, again. If Jeff were here, I would definitely go shake my hair on him for fun. In return, I'm pretty sure I would be body slammed. Ohhhh, how I miss him!