Organization of
Red Umbrella New Zealand
Pubic Lice
Pubic Lice
"Public lice are the most common sexually transmitted infection. There are no reliable outpatient numbers showing how many people have been treated for pubic lice because most people treat themselves at home."
New Zealand AIDS Foundation
What are pubic lice?
Pubic louse (crab) is a common sexually transmitted infection and is an infection caused by tiny parasites. The lice use their paws to grab and hang on the pubic hair and suck blood, which can cause itching of the genital area.
How do I know if I have pubic lice?
Signs and symptoms include:
In the pubic or groin area, there is an irritating itching from a lice bite
Saw lice moving on the pubic hair.
How did you get this disease?
Ways of transmission of pubic lice:
Have had close physical contact with a person infected with pubic lice (skin-to-skin contact).
By sharing other people’s clothes or using other people’s beds (pubic lice can live outside the body for a period of time).
Pubic lice are found in pubic hair, unlike head lice. But pubic lice are occasionally found on other parts of the body, including eyelashes, chest hair and armpit hair.
Can pubic lice be treated?
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis is assessed visually (both pubic lice eggs and adult lice are easily visible to the naked eye).
There are several different lice shampoos on the market. Use according to the instructions, may or may not be necessary to reuse. After treatment, you may see shriveled lice eggs remaining on the hair. You can use a fine comb, dipped in a little vinegar, to comb off the shriveled lice eggs. Shaving the pubic hair is not necessary.
The bedding and the clothes you are currently wearing should be washed with a washing machine and hot water. Take off the clothing that has been worn, in
No contact with the body within 72 hours.
What should my sex partner do?
Current sexual partners should be dealt with and provided with sexual health protection. If you share a house or a bed with an infected person, or share towels and clothes, you need to be treated for pubic lice and scabies.
"Public lice are the most common sexually transmitted infection. There are no reliable outpatient numbers showing how many people have been treated for pubic lice, because most people treat themselves at home.
New Zealand AIDS Foundation
Pubic lice (Crabs) are a common sexually transmitted infection caused by tiny parasites. The lice use their claws to grab and hang on to pubic hairs while feeding on blood and can cause itching in the genital area.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE PUBIC LICE?
Signs and symptoms include:
Itching in the pubic or groin area due to irritation from the lice bites.
Seeing lice moving in the pubic hair.
HOW IS IT CAUGHT?
Pubic lice may be passed on:
Having close bodily contact (skin-to-skin contact) with another person who is infected with pubic lice.
By sharing clothes or someone else's bed (pubic lice can survive for some time away from the body).
Pubic lice found in the pubic hair differ from those in the scalp, although pubic lice can occasionally be found in other areas of the body including eyelashes, chest hair and armpit hair.
CAN PUBIC LICE BE TREATED?
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis is made by visual assessment (both eggs and adult lice are easily visible to the naked eye).
There are several over-the-counter shampoos on the market for crabs. These should be use as directed; reapplication may or may not be necessary. After treatment, egg casings (nits) may remain visible on the hair shaft. To remove these, a fine-toothed comb dipped in vinegar can be used. Shaving off the pubic hair is not necessary.
Bedding and clothing currently being worn should be machine washed in hot water or removed from body contact for 72 hours.
WHAT ABOUT MY PARTNER?
Current sexual partners should be treated and offered a sexual health screen. People who share a house or flat with someone who is infected need only be treated if they have slept in the bed or use the towels or clothing of the person who is infected.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF AND MY CLIENT FROM PUBIC LICE?
Preventative measures are limited to stopping the spread of the infection or preventing re-infection. To avoid catching pubic lice again:
Make sure sexual partners are treated as well.
Wash articles that may be infected, such as sheets, towels and clothing, in hot water.
WHAT IS PUBIC LICE?
