There are three forms of pubic lice:
- The egg (also called a nit)
- The nymph
- The adult.
The Nit
Nits are the eggs of pubic lice. They are very small (about the size of a knot in thread) and are hard to see. They are oval and usually yellow to white in color. Nits take about one week to hatch. Once hatched, they are white or clear in color.
Nymph
The nit hatches into a baby pubic louse called a nymph. It looks like an adult pubic louse, but is smaller. To live, the nymph must feed on blood.
Adult Pubic Louse
The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has six legs, and is tan to grayish-white in color. To live, adult lice need to feed on blood. If the pubic louse does not get a blood meal, it dies within one to two days.
Pubic Lice Signs and Symptoms
The most common symptom of pubic lice is frequent, intense itching. This is because the saliva of the pubic lice causes an allergic reaction.
Pubic lice are generally found in the genital area on pubic hair, but may occasionally be found on other coarse body hair, such as hair on the legs, armpits, mustache, beard, eyebrows, or eyelashes. Infestations of young children are usually on the eyebrows or eyelashes.
A pubic lice infestation is diagnosed by looking closely through pubic hair for nits, nymphs, or adults. It may be difficult to find nymphs or adults; there are usually few of them, and they can quickly move away from light. If crawling lice are not seen, finding nits confirms that a person is infested and should be treated.
Nits and pubic lice are usually visible to the naked eye, but a hand lens or light may help.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print