Pubic lice, also called as crabs are tiny insects that attach themselves to the skin and hair in the pubic area. It is a form of sexually transmitted infection; during intercourse they crawl from pubic hair of one person to the pubic hair another person.
You won’t notice any symptoms until the lice exist for one to three weeks. Some people never observe any symptoms. When symptoms appear, they include:
- Mild fever
- Irritability
- Severe itching mainly in the pubic hair area and genitals
- Feeling run down
- The existence of lice or tiny egg sacs in the pubic hair
- Faint blue spots on the nearby skin
- Scratching that causes rash in the affected area
Recognizing pubic lice
Pubic lice look like tiny crabs. They appear in pale gray and darker if swollen with blood. They attach themselves and the eggs to pubic hair. Eggs appear in white color and are originated in small clusters near the hair roots.
Treating pubic lice
- If you notice you or your partner have pubic lice, immediately see a doctor or gynecologist. Your doctor can suggest you over-the-counter medications that kill the lice and their eggs.
- Applying an insecticide to the whole body reduces the growth of lice.
- Shaving, hot baths and other home remedies work for some extent in treating the pubic lice. If you are a pregnant or breastfeeding woman, then you need to use some specially designed products.
- Wash all the bedding, towels, and clothing thoroughly and keep your home clean.
- Special shampoos or lotions can treat the lice effectively.
There are no long-term effects with pubic lice. So, you can completely recover from them.
