Pubic Lice
(Crabs)

• What are pubic lice?
• How did I get pubic lice?
• Where are pubic lice found?
• What are the signs and symptoms of pubic lice?
• What do pubic lice look like?
• How is a pubic lice infestation diagnosed?
• How are pubic lice treated?

What are pubic lice?

Also called "crabs," pubic lice are parasitic insects found in the genital area of humans. Infection is common and found worldwide.

How did I get pubic lice?

Pubic lice are usually spread through sexual contact. Rarely, infestation can be spread through contact with an infested person's bed linens, towels, or clothes. A common misbelief is that infestation can be spread by sitting on a toilet seat. This isn't likely, since lice cannot live long away from a warm human body. Also, lice do not have feet designed to walk or hold onto smooth surfaces such as toilet seats.

Infection in a young child or teenager may indicate sexual activity or sexual abuse.

Where are pubic lice found?

Pubic lice are generally found in the genital area on pubic hair; but may occasionally be found on other coarse body hair, such as hair on the legs, armpit, mustache, beard, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Infestations of young children are usually on the eyebrows or eyelashes. Lice found on the head are not pubic lice; they are head lice.

Animals to not get or spread pubic lice.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Women (STDs) - Learn and become aware of common STDs in women, including descriptions, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments of each type of infection.
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Men (STDs In Men) - Medical information about the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (stds)
• Head Lice Infestation (Pediculosis) - Get the facts on head lice (pediculosis) infection symptoms, signs, prevention, treatment and information on home remedies, and learn what head lice (and nits) look like.

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