Generality
Crabs, or pubic lice, are parasitic insects that settle in different hairy areas of the human body, first of all the genital one. Only the hair is excluded from the infestation.
For the transmission of the lice, a very close physical contact is required, such as sexual intercourse with an infected person; contagion is also possible through the use of contaminated objects, such as clothes and underwear.
The characteristic signs caused by pubic pediculosis occur in the skin and consist of: itching, irritation and the appearance of small blue spots.
Diagnosing a lice infestation is quite simple (as long as it is symptomatic): the doctor, in fact, just needs to use a magnifying glass to observe the itchy areas.
Pest control therapy requires the use of insecticidal products, in the form of creams, lotions or shampoos.
What are crabs?
Crabs, or pubic lice, are parasitic insects that lurk in the genital areas and other hairy areas of the human body, except the hair.
Their transmission, between people, occurs as a result of close physical contact with an infected individual or with a contaminated object.
Contamination (or infestation) by crabs is considered a "parasitic type infection exclusive to man".
N.B: contamination, infestation and parasitic type infection are three different terms that define the same concept.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PLATES
What are the crabs like? The crabs measure about 2 millimeters in length, have a rounded shape and have an oval head, equipped with two large antennae.
Their body has hairy growths and can be yellow-gray or dark red.
3 pairs of legs are attached to the body (therefore 6 legs in all); those of the anterior pair resemble two large claws and serve to better cling to the hair of the infected individual.
How does the reproduction of the crabs take place? Crabs are insects, therefore, to reproduce, they lay very small eggs. At the time of laying, the eggs are contained in small sacs, capable of remaining firmly glued to the hairs scattered around the body. The bags are brown on the outside and white on the inside.
What do they feed on? Crabs feed on the blood of the infected person. The blood is extracted through a small puncture in the skin.
WHICH PARTS OF THE BODY DO THEY NEST IN?
Crabs can nest in any area of the body covered with hair, except the head.
Generally, they settle in the genital areas, but, in some situations, it is possible to trace them also in the armpits, legs, chest, back, abdomen, between the beard and mustache and, finally, even in the eyelashes and eyebrows.
Causes
Crabs are "caught" after close physical contact with an infected individual or a contaminated object.
Extreme proximity is an essential condition for contamination, as the passage of pubic lice from individual to individual (or from object to individual) occurs only by crawling. The lice, in fact, do not fly and do not jump.
TRANSMISSION FROM INFECTED PERSON TO HEALTHY PERSON
Contamination from crabs almost always occurs after sexual intercourse, therefore after a very close physical contact between two people.
The use of condoms does not guarantee effective protection and parasitic infection spread in this way is considered, to all intents and purposes, a sexually transmitted disease.
TRANSMISSION DUE TO CONTAMINATED OBJECTS
Sometimes, even objects contaminated by lice can act as a vehicle for the spread of parasitic infection.
Usually, the objects most at risk of contamination are:
- The clothes
- The sheets on the bed
- The towels
- The toilet seats
The transmission of the crabs that occurs with the aforementioned modalities is a very rare event, which is observed in very few occasions.
LIFE CYCLE OF THE DISHES
When they infest a person, the crabs live for one to three months. During this time, the females present also lay 300 eggs, which hatch in about 6-10 days.
The new generation of crabs, in order to mature and be able to reproduce in turn, needs about 2-3 weeks.
Attention: the crabs present in the objects live only 24-48 hours; after which they die from lack of nourishment. This explains the rarity with which the passage of crabs from contaminated objects to people takes place.
Symptoms and Complications
Symptoms and signs of lice contamination appear a few weeks after infection (or infestation) and usually consist of:
- Itching in areas infested with the parasite
- Inflammation and irritation in the infested areas, resulting from frequent scratching
- Traces of a black powder inside the underwear
- Skin spots (spots) of blue color, in the areas where the lice nest. These signs are the results of the bites. The most affected points are: the inside of the thigh and the lower part of the abdomen
- Small patches of blood on the skin, immediately after the parasite bites
Sometimes, it can happen that the lice are asymptomatic or almost, in the sense that they do not involve the appearance of any evident manifestation, or they do so in a minimal way.
ITCH
Itching is the most characteristic expression of lice infestation. It affects the areas contaminated by the parasite and is usually very intense.
WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR?
If the aforementioned signs of lice are evident, it is advisable to immediately contact your GP or a doctor who specializes in infections of the genitourinary system.
Diagnosis
If the infestation is symptomatic, diagnosing lice can be simple and immediate; vice versa, it can become problematic when the contamination is asymptomatic.
To identify the presence of parasites and their eggs, an objective examination is required, during which the doctor (preferably a specialist in genitourinary tract infections) uses a magnifying glass.
OBJECTIVE EXAMINATION
During the physical examination, the doctor uses a magnifying glass to scan all parts of the body where the crabs and / or their eggs might reside.
The crabs are recognized, first of all, by the color, which is yellow-greyish or dark red, and secondly by the signs of the bites, which can be blue (if a few days old) or blood-colored (if recent).
Even the eggs can be recognized by their color: they are brown, when they have yet to hatch, and white, when they are hatched.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES?
In the presence of a lice infestation, it is important to understand the causes of origin of the disorder, because, if this is due to sexual intercourse, further in-depth examinations are needed.
These tests consist of a series of precautionary tests aimed at detecting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The presence of an "STI, in addition to pubic lice, requires adequate therapy against both problems.
Treatment
For further information: Medicines to Treat Pediculosis
To heal the lice, you need special insecticidal preparations (in this case also called pesticides), to be applied according to medical prescriptions on the whole body or only on the affected areas. Such preparations are available in the form of creams, lotions or shampoos.
If eyelashes and eyebrows are also involved, for these you need a specific treatment, different from the previous ones and based on vaseline.
To avoid new infestations, it is good to make sure that no eggs have survived and to wash clothes, sheets and any other potentially contaminable objects (towels, etc.).
PERSONAL CARE
As mentioned above, insecticidal preparations are available in creams, lotions or shampoos, to be spread on the body for at least 7-10 days.
To choose the best product and how to use it, it is good to ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Attention: Teenagers under 18 and pregnant or breastfeeding women need insecticidal products suitable for them. On the market, there are creams, lotions and shampoos for patients with different characteristics: it is up to the doctor or pharmacist to indicate the ideal preparation.
How to best use creams, lotions and shampoos? Here are the main tips:
- The insecticide preparation must be applied according to the doctor's instructions. In some cases, it is sufficient to spread the product on the hairy areas affected by the crabs; in other cases, a more "invasive" treatment may be needed, extended to all areas of the body covered with terminal hair.
- If the product being used is harmful to the eyes, it should not be applied to eyebrows and eyelashes. If this recommendation is not observed, you should immediately wash your eyes with plenty of water.
- During the treatment period, it is good to wash only if strictly necessary, because the water eliminates the product from the body, obviously neutralizing its effects.
- After each shower, or when you wash one of the parts contaminated by the lice, it is advisable to immediately reapply the insecticide preparation. Generally, doctors recommend limiting the number of new applications to the bare minimum (two or three, no more), as prolonged treatment is ineffective.
- If the crabs are resistant to certain pesticide products (a feature made evident by the lack of improvements), it is advisable to contact your doctor or pharmacist and request an alternative preparation.
TREATMENT FOR LASHES AND EYEBROWS
When crabs are also spread to the eyelashes or eyebrows, specific products are needed, as the normal preparations used for the rest of the body cause eye irritation and redness.
These products are ointments based on white or yellow vaseline, which, once applied, "suffocate" the infesting parasites, killing them.
How to apply eyelash and eyebrow ointments correctly:
- Two applications per day are required. It is advisable to act with extreme care and to cover all the affected areas well, because this is the only way to definitively kill the parasites.
- Before each new application, care must be taken to clean the eyelashes and eyebrows with a clean tissue. After cleaning, the tissue should be thrown away and not reused.
- The treatment must last at least 8 days.
- If after 8 days, the doctor believes that there are still lice or eggs laid, it is advisable to apply the ointment for another 2 or 3 days.
WHAT TO DO IF EGGS SURVIVE?
If the eggs survive the first treatment (it is possible, since they are more resistant than crabs), the doctor prescribes the patient a second course of treatment. The latter generally begins 7 days after the conclusion of the first and has the purpose of eliminating the newborn crabs which have not yet matured sufficiently to lay more eggs.
Often, at the end of the second treatment there are still some hatched eggs: this, however, should not cause concern, because they are the eggs of origin of the second crabs killed.
HOW TO WASH CLOTHING, SHEETS AND ANY OTHER CONTAMINATED OBJECT?
For a correct and complete disinfestation, it is necessary to wash all clothing, sheets and objects used for personal hygiene (towels, etc.); these, in fact, could contain lice.
Washing must be carried out in the washing machine, at 50 ° C, as only hot water kills all parasites present.
SIDE EFFECTS
On the skin and eyes, anti-lice preparations can cause irritation, itching, redness and a burning sensation. In each of these cases, it is necessary to wash the affected area thoroughly with water and contact your doctor to expose the symptoms suffered and ask for an alternative treatment.
Certain alcohol-based products can alter the color of the hair.
INFORM YOUR PARTNER AND FAMILIES
If the presence of lice occurs after sexual intercourse, it is good to inform your partner, because he may not be aware of the problem that afflicts him (as you will remember, sometimes lice are asymptomatic).
In addition, it is a good idea to let family members know about their ailments, as they may have inadvertently been contaminated too.
When can two infected partners consider themselves cured?
Two partners can be considered cured and resume a normal sexual life only after the disinfestation of lice and eggs (therefore also the possible second cycle of treatments) has ended successfully.
Other articles on "Piattole"
- Nits
- Lice
- Head Lice: Cures and Remedies
- Head Lice - Medicines to Treat Pediculosis
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