Pubic lice are small, flat, light-brown parasites that cling to pubic hair and suck blood for nourishment. Blood sucking from pubic lice can cause small red areas or sores and itching. Pubic lice are usually transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity.
Pubic (“crab”) lice are not known to transmit any disease. Itching (“pruritus”) in the pubic and groin area is the most common symptom of pubic lice infestation. As with other lice infestations, intense itching leads to scratching which can cause sores and secondary bacterial infection of the skin.
Body lice can spread epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Although louse-borne (epidemic) typhus is no longer widespread, outbreaks of this disease still occur during times of war, civil unrest, natural or man-made disasters, and in prisons where people live together in unsanitary conditions.
Even though pubic lice can be uncomfortable, they don't cause any serious health problems in the long term. It's usually easy to get rid of them with over-the-counter medicines.
Without treatment, complications can arise. Pubic lice do not pass on diseases, but scratching the affected area of skin can lead to sores or a skin infection. If lice are present in the eyelashes, there is a risk of inflammation and infection, such as conjunctivitis.
A long-term body lice infestation may lead to thickening and discoloration of the skin, particularly around the waist, groin, and upper thighs, causing a condition called “vagabond's disease”. Intense scratching can cause sores, which may lead to bacterial or fungal infections.
Body lice move by crawling, because they cannot hop or fly. One way that they spread is through physical contact with a person who has body lice. They can also spread through contact with clothing, beds, bed linens, or towels that were used by a person with body lice. You cannot get lice from animals.
The type you have depends on the part of your body that's affected: Head lice affect the scalp. Pubic lice (also called “crabs”) affect your genital area. Body lice affect other areas of the body and are often found in seams of clothing.
Animals cannot get or spread pubic lice. If left untreated, the affected area will continue to itch. Repeated scratching of the infested area can result in other serious skin infections.
Adults are found only on the human host and require human blood to survive. If adults are forced off the host, they will die within 24–48 hours without a blood feeding.
Anyone can get pubic lice; they have nothing to do with poor bodily hygiene and are not always spread through sexual contact. It is possible to have pubic lice without any symptoms but still spread them to other people.
When body lice infestation is long lasting, heavily bitten areas of the skin can become thickened and darkened, particularly in the mid-section of the body. Body lice are known to transmit disease (epidemic typhus, Bartonella quintana infection, and epidemic relapsing fever).
look for signs of head lice (Figure 4). Feces — Look for lice feces on the scalp, which are tiny black specks. If you see them, examine the rest of the head for live lice. Eggs — Female lice typically attach eggs 1/4-inch from the scalp.
Head lice are not known to transmit any disease and therefore are not considered a health hazard. Head lice infestations can be asymptomatic, particularly with a first infestation or when an infestation is light.
Head lice cannot live for long on pillows or sheets. It is possible for a live louse that has come off a person's head to crawl onto another human host who also puts their head on the same pillows or sheets.
You can usually get rid of body lice by cleaning yourself and any personal belongings that may be contaminated. Wash infested bedding, clothing and towels with hot, soapy water — at least 130 F (54 C) — and machine dry them on high heat for at least 20 minutes.
The most common symptom of pubic lice is itchy red spots. The itching is caused by an allergy to the louse saliva or poo. It can take 1 to 3 weeks for itching to develop after the first infestation, and it'll usually be worse at night. Adult pubic lice are tiny – smaller than a match head.
If you're infested with body lice for a long time, you may experience skin changes such as thickening and discoloration — particularly around your waist, groin or upper thighs. Spread of disease. Body lice can carry and spread some bacterial diseases, such as typhus, relapsing fever or trench fever.
Head lice should not be considered as a medical or public health hazard. Head lice are not known to spread disease. Head lice can be an annoyance because their presence may cause itching and loss of sleep.
Head lice can't spread disease, but they can make your scalp itchy. Frequent itching could break the skin on your scalp, which could lead to infections.
A preventative shampoo and spray can break the life cycle. A shampoo that kills lice before they can lay eggs is critical for closing the “bridge” from one head to another. Ladibugs experts recommend parents seek effective, pesticide-free options.
Many people with head lice have no symptoms at all. It's impossible to diagnose head lice based on symptoms alone since the only symptom that matters is the presence of lice. However, experiencing the following symptoms suggests it is time to check the scalp: frequent unexplained itching of the head or scalp.