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 How did I get pubic lice? Pubic lice usually are spread through sexual contact and are most common in adults. Pubic lice found on children may be a sign of sexual exposure or abuse. Occasionally, pubic lice may be spread by close personal contact or contact with articles such as clothing, bed linens, or towels that have been used by an infested person. A common misunderstanding is that pubic lice are spread easily by sitting on a toilet seat. This would be extremely rare because lice cannot live long away from a warm human body and they do not have feet designed to hold onto or walk on smooth surfaces such as toilet seats. Persons infested with pubic lice should be investigated for the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases. How is a pubic lice infestation diagnosed? A pubic lice infestation is diagnosed by finding a “crab” louse or egg (nit) on hair in the pubic
