Definition
Crabs, also called pubic lice, are tiny blood sucking parasites. They are usually found in the pubic hair. They can also be found in other body areas with short hair, such as the eyelashes, eyebrows, armpit hair, and mustache hair.
Pubic lice are often called crabs because they look like tiny crabs.
| Pubic Louse |
|
| Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Causes
Crab lice are parasites. They are insects that need to live off of a host. Crab lice are spread by contact with a person, usually during sex. Less often, crab lice may also spread by sharing items like bedding, towels, and clothing.
Risk Factors
Things that may raise the risk are:
- Sex with someone who has crab lice
-
Contact with unclean items, such as:
- Bedding
- Towels
- Clothing
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. Your doctor will be able to diagnose crab lice by viewing lice and lice eggs.
Treatment
Pubic lice can be treated with an over the counter shampoo or cream rinse. A prescription may be given if these medicines do not kill the lice.
RESOURCES
American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org
American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology http://www.acog.org
References
Lindane shampoo and lindane lotion. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm110452.htm. Accessed October 16, 2020.
Medication guide lindane shampoo. Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda%5Fdocs/label/2003/006309shampoolbl.pdf. Accessed October 16, 2020.
Parasites—lice. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice. Accessed October 16, 2020.
Pediculosis pubis. EBSCO DynaMed website. https://www.dynamed.com/condition/pediculosis-pubis-and-pediculosis-corporis. Accessed October 16, 2020.
Workowski KA, Bolan GA; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2015. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2015 Jun 5;64(RR-03):1-137.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Elliot M. Levine, MD, FACOG
- Review Date: 09/2020
- Update Date: 04/27/2021