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Pediculosis
Health Services > Sexually Transmitted Infections > Pediculosis
Pubic lice or crabs (Pediculosis) are small blood-sucking insects much like head lice. They tend to inhabit the pubic or crotch area rather than the scalp of the head. (Very hairy people may find that pubic lice spread to chest hair, underarms, and the scalp, on occasion.) Lice lay eggs called "nits" that attach themselves to the base of the hair shaft. Pubic lice are commonly transmitted through sexual contact, but you may also be infected by sharing clothing or a bed with an infected person.
Pubic lice cause mild to intense itching in the affected areas. You may be able to see tiny lice moving about, or the eggs as small bumps along the length of a pubic hair.
Pubic lice can be treated with some success with non-prescription products such as Nix Cream Rinse, A-200 Pyrinate, Rid, Triple X, and R&C Shampoo. When this fails, pubic lice are best treated with a prescription shampoo such as Kwell (Lindane 1%). Shampoo all affected areas thoroughly for 4 minutes, then rinse completely. Comb the affected hair with a fine-tooth comb to remove the nits. Repeat in 7 days if living lice are still visible.
Check with your doctor before using on infants, children, or pregnant women.
All clothing and bedding should be either washed in hot water (125ºF) and dried in a hot dryer, dry cleaned or put away in a sealed plastic bag for one month. Black Flag or Raid may be used on furniture or inanimate objects that can't be washed or dry cleaned. All close personal contacts should be examined because crab lice can be spread through sexual contact and by sharing clothing, bedding and other personal items.
Pubic lice are easy to cure, although itching may persist for a while after all lice are killed. Reinfestation is unlikely if all infested people are treated at the same time. |
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