Pubic Lice

What is it?

Pubic (PEW-bik) lice are also called crabs, crab lice, or pediculosis (puh-DIK-u-lo-sis) pubis. Lice live in the hairy area between and around your genitals. Pubic lice can also be on beards, leg and underarm hair, eyelashes and brows, clothing, or bedding. Anti-lice shampoo and creme rinse is used to treat pubic lice.

Pubic lice are insects that bite the skin and feed on blood. Adult lice look like tiny crabs. They are the size of a pinhead. They are flat and light gray or brown. Adults lay nits (eggs) and glue them so tightly to body hair that they cannot be removed with normal washing. Nymphs hatch from nits and become adults in about 7 days.

Causes:

Lice are easily spread from person to person. You may get them by having sex with another person who has pubic lice. You may also get lice if you live in a dirty and crowded place. You can get lice from sharing clothing or bedding used by another person who has pubic lice.

Signs and Symptoms:

The following are signs and symptoms of pubic lice:

Itchy skin.

Bluish-red bite marks and swollen areas on your skin near the hair strands.

Swollen glands (small bumps) in your groin. The groin is the area where your legs and abdomen (belly) meet.

Crawling lice or nits stuck on your hair very close to the skin.

Care:

Take a bath or hot shower with regular soap before using a lice treatment. Put an anti-lice shampoo or creme rinse onto the areas of your body that have lice. Follow the directions of your caregiver or lice treatment instructions very carefully. Ask your caregiver to help you choose a lice treatment.

After the lice treatment, comb out the nits. Remove all dying lice and nits that you see with your fingernails or a fine-toothed comb. Do this once a day until all lice and nits are gone. Ask your caregiver about treating lice and nits on eyelashes and eyebrows.

Tell sex partners and anyone who has shared your clothes or bed about the lice. They should be checked for lice and treated if they find lice on their body. Do not have sex or other close body contact with anyone until all the lice and nits are gone from you and them.

Put on clean clothes and underwear after the lice treatment. Wash all clothes, towels, and bedding that you have used in hot, soapy water. Place them in a hot dryer for 20 minutes. You may also use a hot iron. Some items like overcoats and comforters cannot be washed or are too large to be put in a washing machine. Dry clean or pack these items in an airtight plastic bag for 1 month.