Pediculosis pubis is a parasitic skin disease caused by pubic lice. Pubic lice prefer the genital area (pubis, scrotum, perineum), hair within the anus, axillary cavities, since these areas contain a large number of apocrine glands, to which the sense of smell of pubic lice is specifically oriented. Mustaches, eyebrows, eyelashes and head hair in babies are less commonly affected.
Causes of pubic pediculosis
Pubic lice in most cases are transmitted through sexual contact, when insects from one partner crawl to another.
Also, according to research, a louse, having unhooked from a person, lives no more than one day, but its larvae remain viable for almost a week. So you can easily become infected with lice through a towel, bed linen and clothing. There is also the possibility of infection in the bath, swimming pool, solarium, and even when using a public toilet.
Pubic lice parasitize only on humans, it is absolutely unbelievable to get them from animals.
The main symptoms of pubic pediculosis
Pubic pediculosis begins with an incubation period, when there are no symptoms yet, but pubic lice have already settled on the human body. The incubation period of pubic lice lasts traditionally within a month.
After the end of the incubation period, pubic pediculosis is manifested by several symptoms, the most significant of which is skin itching at the site of the introduction of lice into the skin of the patient. Most often it is pubic itching, but other parts of the body can also be involved in the process: the hips and torso (especially in people with excessive hair), also the beard and mustache. The intensity of skin itching can be different: sometimes a person does not even notice it, and sometimes, especially at night, the itching is unbearable. Itching in the area affected by pediculosis traditionally leads to the fact that the patient combs the skin, and because of this, irritation and redness of the skin occur, eczema is detected, and secondary infections enter the body through scratching.
In addition to skin itching, a sign of pubic pediculosis can be considered blue or shadow spots that appear on the skin with a diameter of up to 1 cm, which quickly disappear. The reason for their appearance may be either small hemorrhages when sucking blood by lice, or the deposition of the secret of their salivary glands. Such spots are most often found on the abdomen, chest, lateral plane of the body and thighs, that is, where the hairline is not thick and the spots are easy to notice.
Sometimes an allergic rash is added to the symptoms of pubic pediculosis. An undoubted sign of pubic pediculosis is the detection of pubic lice themselves or their larvae on the skin or underwear.
Treatment of pubic pediculosis
Treatment of pubic lice is local. Apply antiparasitic ointments, creams, solutions and shampoos. In parallel, you will need to check if you have another venereal disease.
Bed and underwear should be thoroughly laundered and ironed.
Shaving pubic hair is traditionally recommended.
The effectiveness of the treatment of pubic lice is very high, subject to all the rules.
It is also necessary to remember that it is necessary to carefully process clothes, bedding, upholstered furniture, mattresses, since upon contact with them, the cured person becomes ill again.
Prevention of pubic pediculosis
Exclusion of casual sexual contacts. Compliance with personal hygiene.