What Is It?
Pubic lice are tiny insects that can crawl from the pubic hair of
one person to the pubic hair of another person during sexual intercourse.
You can also catch pubic lice from infested clothing, towels, and
bedding. Once they are on a person's body, the insects live by sucking
blood from their host. Pubic lice are sometimes called "crabs"
because when seen under a microscope they look like tiny crabs.
How Does a Girl or Guy Know They Have It
Pubic lice cause intense itching. A person who has been exposed
to pubic lice may notice tiny, gray insects crawling in their pubic
hair. He or she may also see tiny (about the size of the head of
a pin), oval-shaped, white blobs called nits clinging to the hair.
Nits are the louse eggs, and they can't be easily removed from the
hair with the fingers, so there are "nit combs" that can
be purchased at pharmacies.
What Are the Symptoms?
A person who has been exposed to pubic lice will usually notice
symptoms within 1 week. But it can take up to 2-3 weeks for the
mature lice to appear. That means that itching may start in the
first week, but you may not actually notice the lice for 2-3 weeks
after you've been exposed! The primary symptom is itching, but lice
can also lead to a grayish colored rash on your abdomen and thighs.
What Can Happen?
It's unusual for pubic lice to create any serious health problems,
but the itching can be very uncomfortable, and it's easy to transmit
them to others. The female lice can survive up to 40 days and each
can lay 20 to 30 eggs (yuck!). Lice can also live off the body for
2 to 3 days. Because of this it is important to get properly diagnosed
and treated, or it can take forever to get rid of them.
How Is It Treated?
If you think you may have pubic lice or if you have had a partner
who may have pubic lice, you need to see a doctor or gynecologist
right away. If he or she diagnoses pubic lice, you may be prescribed
medication or told to buy an over-the-counter medicine that kills
the lice and their eggs. The important thing to remember is that
the treatment you use may need to be repeated in 1-2 weeks to kill
any lice you didn't get the first time.
You will also need to dry clean or use very hot water to wash all
your bedding, towels, or recently worn clothing to properly kill
the lice and their eggs. Anyone with whom you've had sex should
also check for pubic lice immediately - even if you used a condom,
pubic lice can still be transmitted.
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