Pubic lice (crabs)

Pubic lice, also called crabs, are tiny insects that get into the genital area. They are different from head lice and body lice. Measuring 1/16 inch (1.6 millimeters) or less, pubic lice are called crabs because their bodies look like tiny crabs.

The most common way to get pubic lice is by having sex. Crabs move from the pubic hair of one partner to another.

Children might have pubic lice in their eyebrows or eyelashes. In children, pubic lice can be a sign of sexual abuse. But it may be possible to catch pubic lice after sharing clothing, bedsheets or towels with someone who has public lice.

Pubic lice feed on blood. Their bites can cause serious itching. Treatment includes using creams and lotions that kill the lice and their eggs. You can get these without a prescription.

If you have pubic lice, also called crabs, you may have a bad itch in your genital area. Pubic lice can spread to other areas of the body with thick hair, including the:

• Legs.
• Chest.
• Armpits.
• Beard or mustache.
• Eyelashes or eyebrows, more often in children.

For pubic lice, see your healthcare professional to find out if you have other sexually transmitted infections. Children with pubic lice need to see a healthcare professional to check for signs of sexual abuse.

Seek medical advice about pubic lice treatment if:

• You're not sure if you have crabs.
• Products you get without a prescription don't kill the lice.
• You're pregnant.
• You have infected skin sores from scratching.

Pubic lice spread from the hair of one person to the hair of another. Pubic lice most often spread during sex. You also may get pubic lice from sheets, blankets, towels or clothes that have lice in them.

Having sex with a person who has pubic lice raises the risk of getting them. Public lice on children may be a sign of sexual abuse.

Having pubic lice sometimes leads to complications such as:

• Discolored skin. You may have pale blue spots where pubic lice have been feeding. These may be harder to see on Black or brown skin.
• Infections from scratching. Scratching itchy lice bites a lot can cause the sores to get infected.
• Eye irritation. Children who have pubic lice on their eyelashes may get a type of pink eye, also called conjunctivitis.

To keep from getting pubic lice, don't have sex or share bedding or clothes with anyone who has them.