Genital lice: symptoms, causes, to treatment

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Pubic lice disease

Pubic lice, also called Pthirus pubis , is a condition that occurs when you have a very small insect that is on your genitals. Actually, there are three types of fleas that can attack humans, namely:

• Pediculus humanus capitis : head lice
• Pediculus humanus corporis : body lice
• Phthirus pubis : genital lice

Fleas suck human blood and cause intense itching in certain areas. Genital lice usually live in pubic hair and are spread through sexual contact. However, they can also be spread after you share clothing, sheets, or towels with an infected person.

Pubic head lice are often smaller than body lice and head lice (head lice). Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, genital lice measuring 1.6 millimeters or less. This tick earned the nickname crabs or crabs because their bodies resemble small crabs.

Pubic hair lice are more common in people who have sexually transmitted infections. However, this condition can be prevented by reducing the risk factors. Discuss with your doctor to get more complete information.

Symptoms of pubic lice

Patients with pubic head lice often experience itching in the genital area or anus within 5 days of the appearance of the lice. The itching sensation that appears will be more intense at night.

When you have pubic lice, you may experience itching in other areas of your body that are covered in coarse hair, such as:

• Feet
• Chest
• Armpit
• Beard or mustache
• Eyelashes or eyebrows (more common in children)

The itching sensation will then cause you to scratch, possibly resulting in sores and bacterial infections on the skin. Children who get lice on their lashes are also at risk for conjunctivitis (pink eye).

Genital lice found on a child's head (eyelashes or eyebrows) may be a sign of sexual abuse.

Other symptoms of pubic lice

In addition, you may also experience symptoms such as:

• There are tiny insects in your pubic hair. You can see it more closely by using a magnifying glass. Pubic lice have the following characteristics:
  • Brown or whitish gray
  • Looks like little crabs
  • Darker in color when the fleas have sucked blood
• Nits will be visible on the underside of your pubic hair, but are so small that they are difficult to see. The characteristics of genital lice eggs include oval and yellow, white, or pearl-like appearance.
• The area occupied by the tick appears as a dark or bluish spot. These spots come from crab bites.
• Feeling feverish and lethargic.

When should I call the doctor?

Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent this condition from worsening as well as prevent other medical emergencies from occurring. For that, talk to your doctor immediately to treat this condition.

Tell your doctor right away if you experience the following signs and symptoms:

• The medicines sold in pharmacies cannot kill genital lice
• You have this condition and are pregnant
• You have a skin infection from scratching

Pubic lice transmission

Genital lice are a condition that is generally transmitted through intimate contact, including sexual intercourse. Using blankets, towels, sheets or clothes of people who have pubic hair lice can also cause a person to contract these lice.

Adult lice leave eggs on the hair shaft, near the skin. The egg is called nits . Within 7-10 days later, nits hatch into a nymph and start sucking your blood. Head lice can live without food intake for 1-2 days.

Many believe that a person can get genital lice from using a shared toilet seat or other furniture. However, that is unlikely to happen.

Genital lice usually won't fall off their hosts unless the lice are dead. Head lice also cannot jump from one person to another like head lice.

Don't let your child sleep with you if you have genital lice. Children can get head lice after sleeping in the same bed as someone who has pubic hair lice.

Genital lice do not make you contract certain diseases. However, a bacterial infection can occur as a result of scratching too hard.

Risk factors for pubic lice

There are many factors that put a person at a higher risk for pubic hair lice, namely:

• Having multiple sexual partners
• Having sexual contact with an infected person
• Using the sheets or clothing that the infected person is wearing.

Diagnosis of pubic lice

If your doctor suspects you have this condition, a physical exam and several tests will be done. Genital lice are usually pale gray in color, but they can turn darker after they suck your blood.

You are more likely to catch lice if you see tiny, crab-like insects moving down your pubic hair.

Nits are another indicator that you have genital lice. Genital lice eggs are small and white, usually found around the roots of pubic hair or other body hair. Call your doctor if you show signs of pubic lice, but are still in doubt.

Treatment of pubic lice

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, states that pubic lice can be treated with the following treatments:

1. Special lotion

A lice-killing lotion containing 1% permethrin or a moisturizer containing pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide can be used as a genital lice remedy. This product is available at drugstores or pharmacies, without a doctor's prescription. This pubic lice remedy is safe and effective when used as directed on the label.

2. Lindane shampoo

Lindane shampoo is a hair cleanser that kills lice and lice eggs. However, lindane is not recommended as the first choice of treatment for this condition. The reason is, lindane can be toxic to the brain and other parts of the nervous system.

Therefore, their use must be limited. This particular shampoo is also not recommended for:

• Premature baby
• People with seizure disorders
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women
• People with irritated skin
• Baby
• Parents
• People weighing less than 49.8 kg

Even if your treatment is successful, some nits may persist and still stick to your hair. Remove the remaining eggs with a pin. If several people at home have pubic lice, treat everyone at the same time.

3. Other drugs

You may need stronger medication if the ticks persist. These drugs include:

• Malathion
  Apply this lotion to the affected area and rinse it off after eight to 12 hours.
• Ivermectin (Stromectol)
  This medication is taken orally (taken by mouth) as a single dose of two pills. You may be recommended to take another dose if treatment doesn't work within 10 days.

4. Treatment for pubic lice on the eyelashes and eyebrows

For genital hair lice that appear on the lashes, apply petroleum jelly on the lashes and eyelids 3 times a day for a few days. The itching can last for 1-2 weeks while your body copes with the allergic reaction to the bite.

If only a few live lice and nits are found, you may be able to remove them using a comb or your fingernails. If additional treatment is needed, your doctor may recommend a topical ointment.

All areas of the body that are hairy should be thoroughly examined and cared for, as lice can move from one area to the other on the body. Shaving your hair will not get rid of genital lice.

Home treatment of pubic lice

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you treat genital lice:

• Avoid sharing clothes, sheets, towels with anyone who has genital lice.
• Sexual contact should be avoided until treatment is complete and successful.
• Once diagnosed with genital lice, you should inform your current and past sexual partners so that they can treat it too.

You also need to clean your entire house. Vacuum the entire house and clean the bathroom with a bleach solution. Wash all towels, sheets, and clothing in hot water, then machine dry on their highest setting.

Consult your condition further with your doctor to get the best solution of your problem.