Adult: The adult pubic louse resembles a miniature crab when viewed through a strong magnifying glass. Pubic lice have six legs; their two front legs are very large and look like the pincher claws of a crab. This is how they got the nickname “crabs.” Pubic lice are tan to grayish-white in color.
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.
All hairy areas of the body should be thoroughly checked and treated because lice can move away from treated areas to other hairy parts of the body. Shaving won't get rid of pubic lice.
Adult lice are gray-brown and about 1.1–1.8 millimeters long. A person may be able to see them with the naked eye. The eggs and immature lice are smaller, however, and they may not be visible without a magnifying glass.
A lice-killing lotion containing 1% permethrin or a mousse containing pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide can be used to treat pubic (“crab”) lice. These products are available over-the-counter without a prescription at a local drug store or pharmacy.
Or get them dry-cleaned. Do not spray insecticide on your clothes or other objects in your house. Pause your sex life until the crabs go away, usually about two weeks.
Common myths about crabs
It should be explained that pubic lice infection does not go away on its own and needs therapy. It may be passed on to others if not treated adequately. In addition pubic lice infestation does not carry the risk of transmitting STIs or HIV from one person to another.
The itching typically starts about five days after you are exposed. When looking closely, you may be able to spot individual crabs or their eggs. Sometimes they can be hard to see, so you might want to use a flashlight and magnifying glass. Consider holding a mirror down there if you need a better angle.
Around 1 to 2 of every 100 Australians are estimated to have public lice.
What happens if crabs go untreated? In addition to the discomfort of the infestation, repeated scratching of the infested area can result in a serious skin infection. If you have symptoms or think you've been exposed to crabs, get examined and treated immediately to avoid any complications and continued transmission.
Most people get crabs during sex, but sometimes they're spread through other kinds of close, personal contact. You can get pubic lice where other types of coarse hair — like eyelashes, eyebrows, chest hair, armpits, beards, and mustaches — touch places on someone's body where crabs are.
Pubic (“crab”) lice are not known to transmit any disease. Itching (“pruritus”) in the pubic and groin area is the most common symptom of pubic lice infestation. As with other lice infestations, intense itching leads to scratching which can cause sores and secondary bacterial infection of the skin.
Crabs and scabies symptoms
Scabies causes a rash with red, scratch-like lines or small bumps on the genitals or other parts of your body such as the hands and wrists. They cause intense itching which is worse at night. Pubic lice (crabs) also causes itchiness which is often worse at night.
If someone you know has crabs, avoid sharing clothes, towels, and beds with them until they finish treatment and wash all their stuff. If you've had sex with them in the previous month, use treatment to make sure you don't pass crabs back and forth between you.
This attractive little bugger is Pthirus pubis, otherwise known as crab lice or pubic lice. About 0.05 to 0.08 inches long, crab lice like to live around the course hair in the pubic area (although, fun fact, people can also get them on their eyelashes).
Crabs can live for up to 24 hours on bedding, towels, and clothes. They feed on the blood of the infected person (by taking small bites that can cause itching). They lay tiny white eggs (nits) that stick on the hair shaft. Crabs don't have wings, so they can't jump or fly.
You can get tested for crabs (and other STDs) at your doctor's office, a community health clinic, the health department, or your local Planned Parenthood health center. If you're itching and uncomfortable, the sooner you get in and get pubic lice treatment, the sooner you'll feel better.
Pubic lice and their eggs attach very strongly to hair; they won't wash or brush off, nor do they fall off. They cannot survive for long without a human 'host' to feed from. This means that you are very unlikely to catch pubic lice from clothing, bed linen, shared towels or toilet seats.
Pubic lice, also known as crabs, are tiny insects (about 2mm long) that live on coarse human body hair, such as pubic hair. Pubic lice are not linked to poor personal hygiene.
They're usually found on the pubic hair, but can also be found on other parts of the body where a person has coarse hair (such as armpits, eyelashes, and facial hair). Anyone can get crabs and they are very common.
Nymphs look like tiny adult body lice and are about the size of a pinhead. Nymphs shed their skin (molt) three times and become adults about 9-12 days after hatching. Adult body lice are tan to grayish-white in color, have six legs, and are about the size of a sesame seed.
Pubic lice infestations (pthiriasis) are usually spread through sexual contact. Dogs, cats, and other pets do not play a role in the transmission of human pubic lice. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications are available for treatment of pubic lice infestations.
They bite anywhere they are feeding on the head, but they are particularly fond of the back of the head and the area behind the ears because this is a warmer area of the scalp. The bites often appear as small reddish or pink bumps, sometimes with crusted blood. When scratched excessively, the bites can become infected.