A treatment update karen gunning, pharmd, university of utah college of pharmacy, salt lake city, utah karly pippitt, md, university of utah school of medicine, salt lake. Mimouni d, ankol oe, gdalevich m, grotto i, davidovitch n, zangvil e. The crab louse, phthirus pubis, infests the hair of the pubic region, where louse eggs, or nits, are attached to the hairs. Pediculosis pubis also known as crabs and pubic lice is a disease caused by the pubic louse, pthirus pubis, a parasitic insect notorious for infesting human pubic hair. The empty nit eggshells are tightly attached to the hair. Pubic lice can be found in all parts of the world, affecting men and women of all races. The oldest known fossils of louse eggs ie, nits are approximately 10,000 years old. Pediculosis from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia pediculosis pediculus pediculosis is an infestation of lice bloodfeeding ectoparasitic insects of the order phthiraptera. Find pediculosis stock images in hd and millions of other royaltyfree stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the shutterstock collection. Pyrethrins with piperonyl butoxide applied to the affected area and washed off after 10 minutes. Pubic lice pediculosis pubis condition, treatments, and.
Finally, a common infestation is pediculosis pubis. Pubic lice have a life cycle similar to both the head and body lice, although parallel the head lice more because the eggs are deposited near the base of the pubic hairs. Lice are white or reddishbrown bugs that are about mm long. The condition can occur in almost any species of warmblooded animal i. Lice are obligate insect parasites that can infest body and areas with. Infestation usually leads to intense itching in the pubic area. Dry clean items that cannot be washed in a washing machine. Pediculosis and pthiriasis lice infestation differential.
Full sti screening is recommended, if appropriate, for men and women when they are initially assessed for pubic lice. Pediculosis is an infestation of lice bloodfeeding ectoparasitic insects of the order phthiraptera. Pediculosis pubis pubic lice bccdc clinical prevention services reproductive health sti decision support tool noncertified practice pediculosis pubis pubic lice december 2014. Pubic lice pediculosis pubis, also known as crab lice or crabs, is a louse a type of wingless, bloodsucking insect that can live and multiply infest on skin that grows pubic hair. Patients infested with p corporis experience nocturnal pruritus, particularly in the axillary, truncal, and groin regions, when the lice move from the clothing to the body to feed. Pubic lice crabs are spread through skintoskin contact and can cause small red areas or sores and itching.
The application must include, in addition to the pubic area. The increased incidence of hair removal may lead to atypical patterns of pubic lice infestations or its complete eradication as the natural habitat of this parasite is. Pubic lice are treated the same as head lice, but this finding should prompt evaluation for other sexually. You can have sex again after both you and your partner have completed the full treatment. Pediculosis and pthiriasis lice infestation clinical. Pediculosis pubis pubic lice or crabs is a highly contagious, sexually transmitted parasitic infestation with the pubic or crab louse, phthirus. Pediculosis pubis is a disease caused by the pubic louse, pthirus pubis, a parasitic insect notorious for infesting human pubic hair. Head lice pediculosis capitis prevalence and epidemiology common in children 311 years, girlsboys quite common in indian subcontinent transmission is by direct headtohead contact poor hygiene and overcrowding enhance spread fomites are controversial for transmission. Seasonality trends of pediculosis capitis and phthirus pubis in a young adult population. Pediculosis ie, louse infestation dates back to prehistory. If you have pubic lice, we recommend that you have routine tests for all sexually transmitted infections stis, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and hiv.
Other articles where pediculosis pubis is discussed. Pediculosis capitis, pediculosis corporal, and pediculosis pubis or head lice, body lice, and pubic lice respectively, all may result in severe itching becausethe lice feed on human blood in the crawling stage of their life cycle. Head lice are discussed separately see patient education. Thoroughly work the medicine into your pubic hair and surrounding area. Patients should be instructed to avoid contact with their sexual partners until they have been evaluated for pediculosis pubis. Ectoparasitic infections 2015 std treatment guidelines. Pubic lice are caused by the parasitic insect phthirus pubis. Leave it on for at least 5 to 10 minutes, or as directed by your provider. The three sucking lice that infest humans are the body louse pediculus humanus humanus, the head louse pediculus humanus capitis, and the pubic or crab louse pthirus pubis.
Pediculosis pubis, also called pubic lice or crabs, is an infection caused by crab lice. The most common symptom of the condition is itching in the pubic area, though an infestation can also cause a bluishgray tint to the skin. Body lice and head lice harbor the same endosymbiotic microorganism that seems to. The investigating physician should inquire about the patients socioeconomic status and living conditions, as body louse infestation generally affects people of low socioeconomic status. Pediculosis pubis is usually transmitted by sexual contact 849. Thousands of new, highquality pictures added every day. Pediculosis corporis definition of pediculosis corporis. Lesson on head, body and pubic lice condition known as pediculosis. Sores or lesions may form in the pubic area from crab lice bites or scratching the infected area. Pediculosis capitis and pediculosis corporis are discussed separately. Lice have been so ubiquitous that related terms and phrases such as lousy, nitpicking, and going over things with a finetooth comb are part of everyday vocabulary. Phthirus pubis is crabshaped, greybrown in colour, and about 2 mm in length. The bite of the insect is what causes the intense itching that most people experience with a. Or, you can put them into a closed plastic bag for 2 weeks if you have head lice.
Although pediculosis in humans may properly refer to lice infestation of any part of the body, the term is sometimes used loosely to refer to pediculosis capitis, the infestation. Pediculosis pubis is the medical term for pubic lice, which are also commonly called crabs. Lice head, body and pubic lice pediculosis species. After about one week the larvae hatch, and in about two weeks they develop into mature crab lice.
The female lays eggs smaller than a pinhead on the hair shaft, near to the body. Treatment of pediculosis pubis consists of using specific drugs for the extermination of parasites in affected areas, which is done with two applications with an interval of seven days between each other. Pubic lice most commonly affect the pubic hair, but other hairbearing areas, such as the armpits and eyelashes, eyebrows, or scalp, may also be affected. The species may also live on other areas with hair. Just like head lice, pubic lice are very small insects that live by attaching themselves to human hair and feeding off human blood. Derma touch pediculosis pubis, body louse, insect on body duration. Treatment is based on head lice or nits destruction benzyl benzoate 25% 8 to 12 hrs once, crotramiton 10% 1 day x 8 days and ivermectin 200 micrograms kg in a single dose. Derma touch pediculosis pubis, body louse, insect on body.
In addition to topical treatments, all bedding, towels, and clothing should be washed. The development and maturation of the nymph into an adult louse is similar to the development described in the diagram above. Comb your pubic hair with a finetoothed comb to remove eggs nits. Pubic lice are spread through close body contact with. The pubic louse pthirus pubis is crabshaped, greybrown in colour. Keep items in a closed plastic bag for 4 weeks if you have body lice or pubic lice. The three species of lice that affect people are head lice pediculus humanus capitis, pubic lice phthirus pubis, and body lice.
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