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PUBIC LICE (CRABS)
Pubic Lice Pictures | Support
| General
| Symptoms | Diagnosis
| Treatment | Transmission
| Prevention | Prognosis | Pictures |
History
The
most common parasites that infect humans are lice (Pediculosis pubis or pubic
lice) and mites
(Scabies). Pediculosis pubis, commonly named 'crab lice' or 'crabs' occurs worldwide
and dates back to the writings of the ancient Greek
philosopher, Aristotle.
Pubic lice (Phthirus pubis, or the crab louse)
infests areas of the body where hair grows, especially the groin, and are most common in adolescents and young
adults. It has been of epidemic proportions across all age and
socio-economic class groups since the 1960s.
An estimated 3 million people with new cases of the infestation are
treated each year in the United States.
The most common areas affected are:
Cycle
- An
adult louse gets onto the skin and lays eggs
- Eggs hatch 6-10 days later releasing baby lice,
called nymphs
- They attach their eggs,
called nits, to the host's pubic hair
- Within 15 days these grow into adults and multiply again
- Nymphs and adult lice feed on human
blood
Other Facts
- A louse lives for about 6
weeks but dies
within 24 hours without a blood meal
- Female lice lay 2-3 eggs
daily which are fastened to shafts of body hair which hatch into nits
within a week
- The lice attach to hair, appear as tiny white/gray specks, are highly mobile and can crawl several inches in a day
Symptoms
- Feeling run down
- Inflamed skin and small red or bluish irritations caused by 'crab' lice bites and defecation
- Intense itchiness at the infected area, usually more
intense at night (begins
about 5 days after infestation)
- Irritability
- Mild fever
Public lice can also
infect:
- eyebrows
- eyelashes
- hair
- underarm hair
Transmission
These parasites are transmitted
by:
Contact with contaminated items,
such as:
-
bedding
-
clothing
-
toilet
seats
-
towels
-
upholstered
furniture
Persons engaging in oral sex can be
infected in the hair of the:
-
chest
-
eyebrows
-
eyelashes
-
face
-
scalp
Risk Factors
- Avoid close
contact with others if you have scabies or pubic lice
- Some people do not itch
so do not know
they are infested
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made with the naked eye, a magnifying glass, or under a microscope, from observation of the shape of the louse and/or eggs.
Pubic lice:
- look like tiny pale gray crabs
- darken in color when swollen
with blood
- display six legs, four of which are crab-like claws used to grasp the hair of the host
If you think you have been
exposed to pubic lice or scabies see your doctor or health practitioner
immediately to determine whether or not treatment is required.
Treatment
Treatment is with anti-parasite medication, the most effective treatments being shampoos and creams
containing Lindane, Permethrin
or a related compound.
Procedure
- Always follow directions
carefully as these chemicals are quite toxic
- The infestation may be stubborn, and you may need
to repeat the treatment if symptoms continue or recur
Note
- Decontamination of all
bedding and clothing with hot-water machine washing or dry cleaning is
essential to avoid re-infection
- Everyone exposed to pubic
lice should be treated at the same time
- The home should be
thoroughly vacuumed
- Quilts or blankets can be stored away from other clothing and bedding for a
month as, without blood,
the lice and any nits that hatch will die during this time
Caution
- Pregnant and breastfeeding
women are advised not to use this drug and to use a product safe for these
conditions, such as Rid, a liquid pediculicide, which kills both lice and eggs.
- Recommendations for use in infants and small
children should be followed carefully
Other Treatments
- Bathe or shower before
treatment
- An application of 1% gamma benzene
hexachloride ointment or lotion is left on for 12 hours
Natural Treatments
Scalp Infestations
- Lindane shampoo left on for
10 minutes
- Rinse thoroughly
Eyelash Infestations
- White petroleum jelly ointment for 10
days
- Nits and parasites in the lashes of children can
be carefully pulled out by tweezers
Prevention
Risk Factors
- Condom use does not prevent crab infection because infected pubic hair and skin comes into contact with other pubic hair and skin
- Contact with infected individuals
- Multiple intimate sexual contacts
Help Factors
- Dry-clean or wash materials that may carry scabies or pubic lice in very hot water (125 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Know your partner's sexual history
- Pubic lice and eggs can survive for 1-2 weeks in
bedding or clothing so it is important to thoroughly clean anything that may be
infested
Preventive Treatment
Anyone an infested person has
come into close contact with should be treated to ensure that the lice have been eliminated, including:
- close friends
- family
- sex partners
Follow-up Procedure
- Abstain from sexual contact for 48 hours after
treatment
- A follow-up
examination is recommended after one week to determine if any live nits remain
- Anyone you have had close contact
with or who has shared your bed linen, clothes, or towels
should be treated, even if they do not have an itch or rash
- Household members should be
treated if symptoms emerge
Prognosis
- Lice have been known to spread diseases such as typhus.
Because the skin has been irritated and needs
time to heal itching may persist even after the
lice have been eradicated. Temporary relief may be obtained by using a soothing
lotion, such as:
- Aloe vera
- Calamine
- Lavender Oil
Pubic Lice Pictures | Support
AIDS -
Bacterial Vaginosis - Chancroid -
Chlamydia Gonorrhea - Genital
Warts - Granuloma - Hepatitis -
Herpes -
Lymphogranuloma - Molluscum -
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease -
Pubic Lice - Scabies -
Syphilis - Trichomoniasis -
Urinary Tract Infection -
Vaginitis - Yeast
Infection
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