Pubic Lice

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

What are pubic lice?

The tiny yellow-gray parasites look like small crabs. They are very small (no more than 3 mm), so it is extremely difficult to see them with the naked eye. Pubic lice usually settle on hairy areas of the body in the genital area, however, they can often be found on the eyebrows, eyelashes, armpits and beard. Carrion lice (another name for pubic lice) are inactive, but reproduce quickly enough by laying eggs of nits. They feed exclusively on human blood and live for about 24 days.

The causes of pubic lice

Pubic lice parasitize only on humans. They cannot be infected from domestic or wild animals. Signs of pubic lice are common after intercourse, during which the carrier infects a healthy partner. However, cases are regularly recorded when parasites penetrate the body through towels, bedding or clothes. The fact is that pubic lice cannot survive without a carrier for more than a day, but nits retain the ability to develop much longer. For this reason, some caution should be exercised in swimming pools, saunas, solariums and public toilets, where the risk of catching unpleasant neighbors is greatest.

What happens when infected?

Having moved to the body of the new owner, pubic lice attach to the hair and begin their destructive activity. First, they pierce the wearer's skin and extract the first portion of blood. The salivary glands of insects produce a special enzyme that gets into the wound and prevents blood from clotting. Because of this, pubic lice bites cause a lot of inconvenience. Human skin constantly itches and itches, sometimes allergic reactions appear on the hands, feet and groin. A closer inspection of the skin reveals cyanotic bite marks.

After saturation and mating, pubic lice lay eggs (7-9 pieces). They are tightly strengthened on the hair with the help of a secret and therefore are not washed off with water during hygiene procedures. The nits develop for about two weeks, and then new pubic lice hatch from them.

Pubic lice - symptoms and consequences

The first signs of pubic lice are observed a month after the appearance of the first individuals. The most common symptom is severe itching at the site of the bite. Most often it is noted in the pubic area, but sometimes the thighs, arms and trunk itch as well. People with abundant hair especially suffer from it, since in their case pubic lice can live literally all over the body.

The intensity of itching depends on the individual anatomical characteristics of the person and the time of day. It often happens that during the day the activity of parasites practically does not manifest itself in any way, but at night the itching becomes so intolerable that it does not allow normal sleep. It should be borne in mind that reddening of the skin and its irritation appear in the place of constant scratching. If during the diagnosis of pubic lice, treatment was not carried out or was insufficient, then small damage to the skin develops into eczema and facilitates the penetration of secondary infections into the body.

A striking symptom of the disease is not only itching, but also pubic lice bites. At the site of the penetration of the proboscis of parasites under the skin, cyanotic spots often appear. They are small, but, unlike the lice themselves, they are clearly distinguishable with the naked eye. The causes of such spots are either minor hemorrhages, or a secret that is injected by parasites to prevent blood clotting.

An allergic rash or the discovery of lice eggs may also be a sign of pubic lice.

Consequences of pubic lice

By themselves, parasites are not particularly dangerous. However, when diagnosed with pubic lice, treatment should begin as soon as possible, as bites can cause an allergic reaction, and scratching and itching can weaken the body's defenses. Since secondary infections easily penetrate through damaged skin, all patients with pubic lice are tested for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Pubic lice - treatment of the disease

More recently, people got rid of lice with the help of kerosene, dust, laundry soap and other available means. Fortunately, those days are already in the past. Nowadays, pubic lice are completely cured after a course of treatment with special drugs that destroy the parasite body and laid eggs. It is advisable to completely shave the pubis and perineum before using medical devices. Next, sulfuric ointment or any ointment with benzyl benzoate is applied to the skin. In pharmacies, you can buy more convenient drugs, for example, nittifor or spray-pax. They can be applied directly to hair without worrying about shaving intimate parts of the body.

Since pubic lice can end up on bedding or clothing, soak the garments in hot water and add bleach.

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The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!