Pubic lice

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Crab lice

Crab louse, female

Head louse and pubic louse

Pubic louse-male

Pediculosis - pubic lice; Lice - pubic; Crabs

Almost anyone with pubic lice will have itching in the area covered by pubic hair (often gets worse at night). This itching may start soon after getting infected with lice, or it may not start for up to 2 to 4 weeks after contact.

Other symptoms:

• Skin reaction that is bluish-gray in color
• Sores (lesions) in the genital area due to bites and scratching

An examination of the outer genital area shows small gray-white oval eggs (nits) attached to the hair shaft. It may also reveal adult lice. The health care provider might also see scratch marks or signs of an infection such as impetigo.

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Because pubic lice may cause an eye infection (blepharitis) in young children, their eyelashes should be examined for evidence of lice with a high-powered magnifying glass.

Adult lice may be easily identified under the microscope. Their crab-like appearance is the reason that pubic lice are referred to as "the crabs."

Teenagers with pubic lice may need to be tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Review Date: 10/04/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).