Pediculosis pubis

Pediculosis pubis (pubic lice) on the abdomen

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This page is about clinical aspects of the disease.  For microbiologic aspects of the causative organism(s), see Pediculus pubis.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2]; Dima Nimri, M.D. [3]
Synonyms and keywords: Pubic louse infestation; Phthiriasis pubis; Pubic lice; Crabs; Infestation caused by crab lice; Infestation caused by Phthirus pubis; Infestation by crab lice

Overview

Pediculosis pubis (also known as "crabs" and "pubic lice") is a disease caused by the pubic louse, Pthirus pubis, a parasitic insect notorious for infesting human pubic hair. The species may also live on other areas with hair, including the eyelashes, causing pediculosis ciliaris. Infestation usually leads to intense itching in the pubic area. Treatment with topic agents such as permethrin or pyrethrin with piperonyl butoxide is exceedingly effective. Worldwide it affects about 2% of the population.

Historical Perspective

• Pediculosis pubis was reported in the literature as early as 1946.
• In 1946, Andrew G. Franks describes the use of DDT in the treatment of pediculosis pubis.

Classification

Infestation with pubic lice may be classified according to the site affected into:

• Phthiriasis pubis: infestation of pubic hair with pubic lice
• Phthiriasis palpebrarum: infestation of eyelashes with pubic lice

Pathophysiology

Transmission

Pubic lice are usually acquired by intimate contact between individuals. Parent-to-child infestations are more likely to occur through routes of shared towels, clothing, beds or closets. Adults are more frequently infested than children. As with most sexually transmitted pathogens, they can only survive a short time away from the warmth and humidity of the human body. Infection in a young child is not necessarily indicative of sexual abuse, although this possibility should be kept in mind.

Life Cycle

Pubic lice (Phthirus pubis) have three stages: egg, nymph and adult. Eggs (nits) are laid on a hair shaft. Females will lay approximately 30 eggs during their 3–4 week life span. Eggs hatch after about a week and become nymphs, which look like smaller versions of the adults. The nymphs undergo three molts before becoming adults. Adults are 1.5–2.0 mm long and flattened. They are much broader in comparison to head and body lice. Adult lice are found only on the human host and require human blood to survive. If adults are forced off the host, they will die within 24–48 hours without a blood feeding. Pubic lice are transmitted from person to person most-commonly via sexual contact, although fomites (bedding, clothing) may play a minor role in their transmission.

Pubic Lice life cycle

Macroscopic Characteristics

Pubic lice have three forms: the egg (also called a nit), the nymph, and the adult.

• Nit: Nits are lice eggs. They can be hard to see and are found firmly attached to the hair shaft. They are oval and usually yellow to white.
• Nymph: The nymph is an immature louse that hatches from the nit (egg). A nymph looks like an adult pubic louse but it is smaller. To live, a nymph must feed on blood. It takes 2–3 weeks after hatching to mature into adults capable of reproducing.
• Adult: The adult pubic louse resembles a miniature crab when viewed through a strong magnifying glass. Pubic lice have six legs; their two front legs are very large and look like the pincher claws of a crab. This is how they got the nickname "crabs." Pubic lice are tan to grayish-white in color. Females lay nits and are usually larger than males. To live, lice must feed on blood. If the louse falls off a person, it dies within 1–2 days.

Causes

The cause of pubic lice is pediculus pubis. For more information about the microorganism, click here.

Differentiating Pediculosis pubis from other Diseases

Pediculosis pubis must be differentiated from other diseases that cause pruritus and excoriation in the pubic area:

Disease	Findings
Scabies	Presents with pruritus and excoriations in the pubic area Nits are absent The mites are not visible with the naked eye
Trichomycosis	Presents as 1–2 mm yellow, red or black concretions encircling the hair shaft, with the bad odor Superficial bacterial infection (corynebacteria) of underarm and pubic hair Wood lamp examination shows pale-yellow fluorescence
White piedra (a fungal infection)	presents with white/cream-colored soft nodules or gelatinous sheaths along the hair shaft. It can be easily detached from the hair Caused by Trichosporon, a superficial fungal infection on the hair shaft Wet mount of the nodules with 10-15% KOH is diagnostic (visualized hyphae)

Epidemiology and Demographics

• The incidence of pubic lice worldwide is estimated at 2,000 per 100,000 cases.
• Accurate numbers are difficult to acquire, because pubic lice infestations are not considered a reportable condition by many governments, and many cases are self-treated or treated discreetly by personal physicians.
• It has recently been suggested that an increasing percentage of humans removing their pubic hair has led to reduced crab louse populations in some parts of the world.

Risk Factors

Sexual contact with a person infected with pubic lice is a risk factor for its transmission.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Natural History

If left untreated, infestation with pubic lice may persist and lead to secondary bacterial infection due to the associated intense itching.

Complications

Most common complication of pubic lice infestation is excoriations due to intense itching, which may lead to a secondary bacterial infection. When pediculus pubis infests the eyelashes, it may lead to eye infections, such as blepharitis and conjunctivitis.

Prognosis

With proper medical treatment with antimicrobial drugs, pediculosis pubis has an excellent prognosis.

Screening

There are no screening recommendations for pubic lice.

History and Symptoms

• Although any part of the body may be colonized, crab lice favor the hairs of the genital and peri-anal region. Especially in male patients, pubic lice and eggs can also be found in hair on the abdomen and under the armpits as well as on the beard and mustache, while in children they are usually found in eyelashes. Infestation with pubic lice is called Phthiriasis or Pediculosis pubis, while infestation of eyelashes with pubic lice is called Phthriasis palpebrarum .
• The main symptom is itching, usually in the pubic hair area. It results from hypersensitivity to louse saliva, and it becomes strong enough 2 or more weeks following initial infestation.
• Erythematous sore lesions may be seen due to scratching.
• In the majority of infestations, a characteristic grey-blue or slate coloration appears (maculae caeruleae) at the feeding site, which may last for days and is also characteristic for the infestation.

Physical Examination

Skin examination in patients with pubic lice may reveal the following findings:

• Visualization of the pubic lice and their nits in the pubic area. Other sites that may be affected include the perianal and inguinal areas, axillary and chest hair, as well as the eyelashes.
• Papular urticaria
• Excoriations, which may become secondarily infected
• Maculae cerulea: a pathognomonic finding for pubic lice. These are blue-gray, irregularly shaped macules, which measure 0.5-1 cm in diameter and are usually scattered over the lower abdomen, buttocks and upper thighs.
• Inguinal lymphadenopathy

• 

  Fig.1 Pubic lice in genital area

• 

  Fig.2 Pubic lice in abdomen

• 

  Fig.3 Pubic lice on eye-lashes

Laboratory Findings

The diagnosis of pubic lice is made by visualization of lice on pubic hair and there are no laboratory findings associated with pubic lice.

Other Diagnostic Studies

Diagnosis of pediculosis pubis is made through direct visualization of the lice on pubic hair.

Medical Therapy

• Generally, all patients with Pediculosis pubis require antimicrobial therapy.
• Randomized clinical data that compares the efficacy and safety of antimicrobial therapies is scarce.
• The majority of trials that evaluate therapies for Pediculosis pubis are based on the management of head lice.

• Phthirus pubis therapy

• Preferred regimen (1): Permethrin 1% cream rinse applied to affected areas and washed off after 10 minutes
• Alternative regimen (1): Malathion 0.5% lotion applied to affected areas and washed off after 8–12 hours
• Alternative regimen (2): Phenothrin 0.2% lotion applied to affected areas and washed off after 2 hours
• Alternative regimen (3): Ivermectin 250 ug/kg PO, may be repeated in 1-2 weeks
• Note (1): If Malathion or Phenothrin lotion is to be applied to hair, the hair should be dry. In contrast, Permethrin should be applied to wet hair.
• Note (2): If necessary, treatment may be repeated after 1 week.
• Note (3): Permethrin may be safe among pregnant women, but randomized data is lacking.

Specific Considerations

If the eyelashes are infected, the following are indicated:

• Preferred regimen: Permethrin 1% lotion to be applied using a cotton swab to the eyelashes and to be washed out after 10 minutes
• Alternative regimen: Ivermectin 250 ug/kg PO, may be repeated in 1-2 weeks

Note: Keep eyelids closed during application of Permethrin

• • Vaseline eye patch may be reapplied twice per day for 8-10 days
  • Use tweezers (or forceps) to remove visible lice

Non-Pharmacologic Management

• Clothes should be decontaminated by laundering at temperatures > 50 C.

Treatment of Sexual Partners

• Pubic lice may be spread through sexual intercourse.
• Therefore, all partners with whom the patient has had sexual contact within the previous 30 days should be evaluated and treated, and sexual contact should be avoided until all partners have successfully completed treatment and are thought to be cured.
• Because of the strong association between the presence of pubic lice and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), patients diagnosed with pubic lice should undergo evaluation for other STIs.

Surgery

There is no role for surgery in the treatment of pubic lice.

Primary Prevention

Abstaining from sexual intercourse with an infected person is one of the means of preventing infestation with pubic lice.

Secondary Prevention

Once a patient is diagnosed with pubic lice, the following preventive measures may be followed:

• Washing with hot water and drying of all clothes and bedding
• Promoting personal hygiene and sanitation measures
• Treatment of sexual contacts with pubic lice
• Examining patients and their sexual partners for other STDs.