In this Article

• 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?
• Pubic Lice (Crabs) Glossary
• Pubic Lice (Crabs) Index

What are the signs and symptoms of pubic lice?

Signs and symptoms of pubic lice include

• Itching in the genital area.
• Visible nits (lice eggs) or crawling lice

What do pubic lice look like?

There are three stages in the life of a pubic louse: the nit, the nymph, and the adult.

Nit: Nits are pubic lice eggs. They are hard to see and are found firmly attached to the hair shaft.

They are about the size of the mark at the end of this arrow . They are oval and usually yellow to white. Nits take about 1 week to hatch.

Nymph: The nit hatches into a baby louse called a nymph. It looks like an adult pubic louse, but is smaller. Nymphs mature into adults about 7 days after hatching. To live, the nymph must feed on blood.

Adult: The adult pubic louse is about this size and resembles a miniature crab when viewed through a strong magnifying glass. Pubic lice have six legs, but their two front legs are very large and look like the pincher claws of a crab; this how they got the nickname "crabs." Pubic lice are tan to greyish-white in color. Females lay nits; they are usually larger than males. To live, adult lice need to feed on blood. If the louse falls off a person, it dies within 1-2 days.

Picture of pubic louse (crab)

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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