Louse Fiasco 2011 In which I reveal three possible entry points and my calculated plan of attack.→[More:]

1. I brought it home after coming into contact with an infected someone on the train/bus. Probably the least likely of my three options.

2. The BF brought it home, as he's been doing some volunteer type stuff that has put him into contact with one homeless person three times a week. Body lice are common in homeless or vagrant populations.

3. Given that the louse was found on the t-shirt I wore last Friday, it could have come from the new sweatshirt I wore over the t-shirt. The sweatshirt had been shipped to us and had not been washed before wearing.

Using my trusty petzel, I scoured the seams of each piece of clothing we had worn recently but not yet washed. I found two things that might be nits on one of the BF's hoodies, but that was it.

Each piece of clothing was washed in hot water and went through the hot dryer cycle twice. The washing also included all our bedding and less frequently washed items, like blankets and jackets. Our comforter is sealed in a bedding bag and is going to the dry cleaners. I sprayed our mattress and pillows with the medicated spray.

After checking both my and the BF's hair with a nit comb, we found no signs of head lice. We're using the medicated shampoo just in case.

All of this will be repeated in 10 days to catch any newly hatched lice.

Maybe this is an overreaction, given that I only found one, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. And if I ever have to do this again, it will be too soon. I'm exhausted!