Pubic lice are greyish brown insects about 2mm in length. They live in coarse body hair, such as pubic hair, under arm hair, leg hair, abdomen, chest and beard hair and occasionally within the eyebrows or eye lashes. They survive by sucking blood from the host and are transmitted via close sexual or body contact.
The most common symptom is itchy red pimples due to a hypersensitive reaction to the lice. Other symptoms include:
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Dark brown or black louse droppings on the skin or underwear
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Tiny blue spots caused by bites from the lice
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Brown eggs or lice visible within the hair.
The lice are treated with an insecticide which is available as a lotion, cream or shampoo. The treatment should be applied and then repeated 3 to 7 days later to ensure that the lice have been fully eradicated.
