Pubic lice, Crab lice, Pediculus pubis, Pubic infection, Pubic pain.
Root Cause of Disease
The most common way to get pubic lice is through sexual activity. In children, pubic lice may be found in the eyebrows or eyelashes and can be a sign of sexual abuse. However, it may be possible to catch pubic lice after sharing clothing, bedsheets or towels with an infected person.
Symptoms
Most The most common symptom of pubic lice is itchy red spots. The itching is caused by an allergy to the louse saliva or poo.
It can take 1 to 3 weeks for itching to develop after the first infestation, and it’ll usually be worse at night. Adult pubic lice are tiny – smaller than a match head. They’re grey-brown in color and have 6 legs. The 2 pairs of back legs are much larger and look like the pincer claws of a crab. They use these to grasp onto your hair. Pubic lice eggs are tiny, yellow-white ovals, which are stuck firmly to the base of your hairs.
You may also notice the following symptoms:
- Dark brown or black powder on your skin or in your underwear (this is louse droppings)
- Blue spots on your skin where the lice have been, particularly on your thighs and lower stomach, caused by bites from the lice
- Specks of blood in your underwear, if you have been scratching a lot
- Nits (empty eggshells) that look like white oval dots attached to the base of your hairs
Causes
When You typically get pubic lice by being physically close to a person who has them. During sex, for example, the lice can jump from your partner’s pubic hair to your own. Less often, lice spread through shared clothes, towels and linens. You get genital crabs by coming into close physical contact with a person who has them.
The lice jump from the pubic hair of one person to another. Usually, people catch crabs by having sex with a person who has them. Even if there’s no penetration or intercourse, the close physical contact means you can catch or spread crabs.
You can occasionally get crabs other ways, too. You can catch them by sharing or having contact with the clothes, linens and towels of a person who has them. But you won’t get crabs through casual contact, such as handshakes or hugs.
Home Remedies to treat Pubic Lice
Remedy – 1: Vinegar
Materials : Vinegar
You can opt for vinegar, It possesses properties that render it toxic and an effective pubic lice treatment. So, just mix water with it in equal amount and take a cotton ball, dip it into the solution and apply it on the affected area. This is one of the best remedies which will help you to improve your condition.
Product Link: Vinegar
Remedy – 2: Peppermint oil
Materials: Peppermint oil
You can opt for peppermint oil, According to a study, peppermint oil is abundant in phenols, ketones, oxides and phenolic ethers and can help you to eliminate pubic lice. Furthermore, using it can soothe your skin and help you to get rid of dryness. Just add it to your bubble bath and it will also help you to get rid of itching.
Product link: Peppermint Oil
Other Remedies
Use lotions and shampoos
Choose from among several over-the-counter lotions and shampoos (Nix, others) designed to kill lice. Apply the product according to instructions. You may need to repeat treatment in seven to 10 days.
Wash contaminated items
Wash bedding, clothing and towels used in the two days prior to treatment. Use hot, soapy water — at least 130 F (54 C) — and dry the items at high heat for at least 20 minutes.
Dry-clean or seal unwashable items
If you can’t wash an item, have it dry-cleaned or place it in an airtight bag for two weeks.
Preventions
Pubic (“crab”) lice most commonly are spread directly from person to person by sexual contact. Pubic lice very rarely may be spread by clothing, bedding, or a toilet seat.
The following are steps that can be taken to help prevent and control the spread of pubic (“crab”) lice:
- All sexual contacts of the infested person should be examined. All those who are infested should be treated.
- Sexual contact between the infested person(s) and their sexual partner(s) should be avoided until all have been examined, treated as necessary, and reevaluated to rule out persistent infestation.
- Machine wash and dry clothing worn and bedding used by the infested person in the hot water (at least 130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned OR sealed in a plastic bag and stored for 2 weeks.
- Do not share clothing, bedding, and towels used by an infested person.
- Do not use fumigant sprays or fogs; they are not necessary to control pubic (“crab”) lice and can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
