Cooties are lice. And they are not nearly as contagious as they would have you believe on the playground where they have been debating which gender is the more likely cootie carrier for decades. This debate is now settled. From the University of Nebraska - Lincoln:
Most head lice are probably transmitted when someone comes into close contact with an infested person. Girls are usually more "huggy" and play in closer proximity to playmates than boys and may have longer hair. They also may share combs and brushes during their playtime.
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So there it is: More huggy - more buggy. It's official. Girls have cooties.
One thing I haven't been able to independently confirm is whether the idiom "going over something with a fine tooth comb" also has a lice-y provenance. After watching some cootie removal at the kid salon it's hard to believe that it doesn't.
