Sexually/Socially transmitted diseases
I've mentioned elsewhere that I'm uncomfortable with the designation of certain diseases as "sexually transmitted," not least because sufferers of diseases with that kind of "branding" tend, out of embarrassment, denial, or fear of being "caught," tend to go underground instead of seeking treatment. The result is wider transmission and greater aggregate suffering (particularly for unwitting partners) than other diseases.
We've had that concept brought home to chez figleaf where an outbreak of head lice in our children's elementary school has us cooperating with other families to inspect our children literally with fine-toothed combs morning and night, keeping them in (non-shared) scarves, and generally everybody alerting each other at the least suspicion that their child might be infested.
Two things spring to mind:
1) It's *astonishing* how quickly such slow-moving and wingless little bugs can spread! Great jimminy-christmas they get around!
2) It's amazing how if just one or two families are in denial or ashamed about the possibility their own children could have it it puts everyone else at risk of re-infestation and forces everyone else to work way, way harder and be way more vigilant than would otherwise be necessary.
Sound familiar?
In Australia one in four primary aged children have headlice. The best way to treat it is to soak their hair in white hair conditioner and then (fine) comb out the stunned lice. They are rendered immobile by the conditioner for about 20 minutes. ...and yes they are so, so easy to catch!
[Good to know, Avalon. Folks are doing something similar here. So far we've all stayed bug free, but as you say it's only a matter of time. Thanks. --fl]
It's very, very hard to combat denial because it's not always evident why it should happen. I'm thinking back to the days of my grandparents when the word cancer was never spoken and was considered to be some sort of personal shame. But if we can emerge from those dark ages, no doubt we will eventually persuade people to emerge from the veil of half-understood situations - it's the old story: open the minds. Easier said than done in some cases I know, but there are plenty of people doing wonderful work, take you for one instance, figleaf. Just keep going.
[Cancer's a perfect example, A. If you're ashamed of having it, or if you even secretly believe you must "deserve it" to get it, how hard can you agitate for a cure? Same with stomach ulcers, by the way -- turns out they're caused by a bacterial infection but people were so sure it was caused by behavior in the form of stress, drinking, spicy diets, and what-not that... well... nobody thought to *look* for another cause. And, incidentally, the cure (a particular antibiotic) and soon after the cause (Helicobacter pylori) were found not by someone inquiring into a pathogenic cause but entirely by accident! Perfect example, A. Thanks! --fl]
Oh this post made me laugh...head lice is doing the rounds of School Girl M's primary school this week (second time this year!) and I spent an hour last night combing conditioner through her very long hair as a precautionary measure...and as I was doing it, the thought actually did flit across my mind that it was Friday night and I have no life...lol.
Does the knowledge that it's going around school make you feel itchy or is it just me??
[It makes me itchy too, Mermaid Girl. As for having a life -- you've always got a life, it's just sometimes we party with our livers, other times with our hearts, other times with our children and a comb. :-) I know the feeling but... I kind of love it. Thanks. --fl]