Small, wingless insects () that live in the pubic hair and feed on blood. Also called crab lice or crabs, they are usually spread by sexual contact. A louse has a flattened body, up to 2 mm across. Female lice lay eggs (nits) on the hair, where they hatch about 8 days later. On men, the lice may also be found in hair around the anus, on the legs, on the trunk, and even in facial hair. The bites sometimes cause itching. Children can become infested by transmission from parents, and the lice may live on the eyelids. An insecticide lotion kills the lice and eggs.
Pubic lice |
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