Overview
Definition
Pubic lice are tiny insects that live on body hair, usually in the pubic area. They are also called crabs. The lice can also infest armpit hair, chest hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, and facial hair.
Symptoms
Usually, the infected area is very itchy. The itching can be worse at night. Bites from the lice can cause a rash or small bluish spots on your skin. The spots may last for several months, even after all lice have been killed.
Along with the symptoms described, you will likely see tiny specks on your pubic hair that can't be pulled off. These specks are the eggs, called nits, laid by adult lice.
Pubic lice are like a lot of other STIs - you may be infected and have no signs or symptoms.
Causes
Pubic lice are spread by skin-to-skin contact with someone who has lice, usually through sexual contact. They can also spread by sharing an infected person's bedding, clothing or towels. They cannot jump or fly. Condoms do not prevent the spread of pubic lice.
Tests and Diagnosis
The adult lice (pale gray but darken in color when swollen with blood) and nits (white, deposited in small clumps near the hair roots) can be seen with a magnifying glass. The pubic lice are typically 1mm in length. It is easier to see the nits on the hair than it is to see the actual lice.
Treatment and Drugs
Pubic lice will not go away without treatment. Pubic lice need to be treated by using a special shampoo that you can buy without a prescription; some common preparations available are Kwell and Nix. Follow the directions carefully. A pharmacist or public health nurse will be able to provide information on these shampoo treatments.
All of your sexual partners need to be treated. Other people living in your house do not need to be treated unless they have shared your bed, clothes or towels. All clothes and bed sheets need to be washed with hot water or dry cleaned. Anything that cannot be washed in hot water or dry cleaned should be put in a sealed airtight plastic bag for three days to kill the lice.
Contact a health care professional if the lice do not go away after the first treatment, or if you have any signs of a skin infection. Skin infections can be caused by frequent scratching.
Prevention
Avoid close skin-to-skin contact with someone who has pubic lice as well as avoiding sharing their clothes or towels.
Last Updated: June 17, 2009
