Tag Archives: crabs

Straight, No Chaser: STDs – Treatment of Pubic Lice (Crabs)

Infectious Disease, Genital/Urinary, , , , , ,

pubic lice treatment comb

There’s no dishonor in needing help. A pubic lice infestation is one of many types of conditions that can lead to a complete disruption of your life. These are full-time parasites whose mission is to multiply and inhabit you. If you get infected and either don’t know what to do or incompletely/incorrectly treat these infections, you’ll be in for a long and unpleasant co-existence with pubic lice. Today’s Straight, No Chaser addresses treatment considerations regarding pubic lice and is modified from recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Non-treatment-related information on pubic lice is available in this post.
Lice-killing over-the-counter products containing 1% permethrin or pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide can be used to treat pubic (“crab”) lice. These medications are safe and effective when used according to instructions. It never hurts to discuss this with the pharmacist while you’re there or with your SterlingMedicalAdvice.com expert consultant from home.
It is important to appreciate that there are two separate considerations in treating pubic lice: 1) treatment of lice actually in the pubic area and 2) treatment of lice on the eyebrows and/or eyelashes.

public lice rx statement

Steps for genital pubic lice treatment:

  • Wash the infested area and towel dry. Set the towel aside, as it will need to be specially cleaned.
  • Thoroughly saturate the pubic hair and other infested areas with lice medication. Leave the medication on your hair for the time recommended in the instructions. After waiting the recommended time, promptly remove it.
  • Even at this point, most nits (eggs) will still be attached to hair shafts. Nits may be removed with fingernails or by using a fine-toothed comb.
  • Put on clean underwear and clothing.
  • To kill any lice or nits remaining on clothing, towels, or bedding, machine-wash and machine-dry those items used during the two-three days before treatment. Use hot water (at least 130°F) and the hot dryer cycle.
  • Items that cannot be laundered can be dry-cleaned or stored in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks.
  • All sex partners from within the previous month should be informed that they are at risk for infestation and should be treated.
  • Sexual contact must be avoided until all sexual partners have been treated and reevaluated to rule out persistent infestation.
  • Repeat treatment in nine to 10 days if live lice or nits are still found.
  • Persons with pubic lice should be evaluated for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Steps for treatment of lice and nits found on eyebrows or eyelashes:

  • The lice medications used for the genital region should not be used near the eyes.
  • If only a few live lice and nits are present, it may be possible to remove these with fingernails or a nit comb.
  • If additional treatment is needed for lice or nits on the eyelashes, careful application of ophthalmic-grade petrolatum ointment (only available by prescription) on the eyelid margins two to four times a day for 10 days is effective. Regular petrolatum such as Vaseline should not be used, because it can irritate the eyes.

Your physician knows what medications work for treatment of pubic lice, but I do want you to make a note regarding one medicine: lindane shampoo. This medicine is effective but has a bad risk profile. It can be toxic to the brain and central nervous system and is most notably associated with the development of seizures. Because of this, lindane is not a first-line medication and should be restricted to instances in which other medications didn’t work or aren’t tolerated. Lindane is not to be given to anyone under 110 pounds (e.g., children), those with a history of seizures, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, the elderly or those with sores and/or irritated skin in the areas to be treated.
The point about pubic lice is the same as with any sexually transmitted infection. Your best course is to avoid contracting it. If obtained, your best course is to come clean (no pun intended) and get aggressive with treatment and notification of your sexual partners. Pretending it will go away or that it can’t happen to you is a dangerous prescription that I won’t co-sign.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2016 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: STDs – Treatment of Pubic Lice (Crabs)

Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infectious Disease, Genital/Urinary, , , , ,

pubic lice treatment comb

There’s no dishonor in needing help. A pubic lice infestation is one of many types of conditions that can lead to a complete disruption of your life. These are full-time parasites whose mission is to multiply and inhabit you. If you get infected and either don’t know what to do or incompletely/incorrectly treat these infections, you’ll be in for a long and unpleasant co-existence with pubic lice. Today’s Straight, No Chaser addresses treatment considerations regarding pubic lice and is modified from recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Non-treatment-related information on pubic lice is available in this post.
Lice-killing over-the-counter products containing 1% permethrin or pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide can be used to treat pubic (“crab”) lice. These medications are safe and effective when used according to instructions. It never hurts to discuss this with the pharmacist while you’re there or with your SterlingMedicalAdvice.com expert consultant from home.
It is important to appreciate that there are two separate considerations in treating pubic lice: 1) treatment of lice actually in the pubic area and 2) treatment of lice on the eyebrows and/or eyelashes.

public lice rx statement

Steps for genital pubic lice treatment:

  • Wash the infested area and towel dry. Set the towel aside, as it will need to be specially cleaned.
  • Thoroughly saturate the pubic hair and other infested areas with lice medication. Leave the medication on your hair for the time recommended in the instructions. After waiting the recommended time, promptly remove it.
  • Even at this point, most nits (eggs) will still be attached to hair shafts. Nits may be removed with fingernails or by using a fine-toothed comb.
  • Put on clean underwear and clothing.
  • To kill any lice or nits remaining on clothing, towels, or bedding, machine-wash and machine-dry those items used during the two-three days before treatment. Use hot water (at least 130°F) and the hot dryer cycle.
  • Items that cannot be laundered can be dry-cleaned or stored in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks.
  • All sex partners from within the previous month should be informed that they are at risk for infestation and should be treated.
  • Sexual contact must be avoided until all sexual partners have been treated and reevaluated to rule out persistent infestation.
  • Repeat treatment in nine to 10 days if live lice or nits are still found.
  • Persons with pubic lice should be evaluated for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Steps for treatment of lice and nits found on eyebrows or eyelashes:

  • The lice medications used for the genital region should not be used near the eyes.
  • If only a few live lice and nits are present, it may be possible to remove these with fingernails or a nit comb.
  • If additional treatment is needed for lice or nits on the eyelashes, careful application of ophthalmic-grade petrolatum ointment (only available by prescription) on the eyelid margins two to four times a day for 10 days is effective. Regular petrolatum such as Vaseline should not be used, because it can irritate the eyes.

Your physician knows what medications work for treatment of pubic lice, but I do want you to make a note regarding one medicine: lindane shampoo. This medicine is effective but has a bad risk profile. It can be toxic to the brain and central nervous system and is most notably associated with the development of seizures. Because of this, lindane is not a first-line medication and should be restricted to instances in which other medications didn’t work or aren’t tolerated. Lindane is not to be given to anyone under 110 pounds (e.g., children), those with a history of seizures, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, the elderly or those with sores and/or irritated skin in the areas to be treated.
The point about pubic lice is the same as with any sexually transmitted infection. Your best course is to avoid contracting it. If obtained, your best course is to come clean (no pun intended) and get aggressive with treatment and notification of your sexual partners. Pretending it will go away or that it can’t happen to you is a dangerous prescription that I won’t co-sign.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of 844-SMA-TALK and http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA). Enjoy some of our favorite posts and frequently asked questions as well as a daily note explaining the benefits of SMA membership. Please share our page with your Friends on WordPress, on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: Pubic Lice (Crabs)

General Health and Wellness, , , , , , ,

Unfortunately, there’s no pleasant way around this topic. I hope you’re not crabby.

 Pubic-lice

There is a story of legend in the medical community regarding the trends to start waxing or shaving pubic hair. It involves crabs (pubic lice). Back in the 1920s, when the clear preference for appearance involved a full “bush,” this was often accompanied with the frequent presence of pubic lice, particularly in the brothels of Las Vegas. Women took to shaving in an effort to relieve themselves from the presence of the lice. However, the newly shaved appearance apparently wasn’t good for business; as a result, these women began wearing pubic toupees.
So why am I telling this story? The toupees were made of beaver hair. That’s the origin of that terminology, in case you didn’t know. On to common questions about pubic lice.

 pubic-lice-hair

What are pubic lice? Pubic lice (aka crabs) a parasitic insects found in the genital and pubic areas of humans.

 pubiclicevsheadlice

Where are pubic lice found? By definition, pubic lice are predominantly found in the genital and pubic areas in one’s hair. However, pubic lice have also been found in other areas of the body with coarse hair, such as the armpits, beard, eyebrows, eyelashes, legs and mustache. In fact, pubic lice on the eyebrows or eyelashes of children are regarded as a prompt to search for sexual abuse. It also is of note that lice on the scalp are head lice, which is a different consideration than pubic lice.
Whom do pubic lice infect? Anyone and everyone seem to be affected. Pubic lice are seen all over the world across all races, classes and ethnicities. Public lice are not seen in animals. Pubic lice are most commonly seen in adults, are considered to be a sexually transmitted disease (infection, aka STD or STI) and should prompt a search for other STDs. There have been occasional cases of spread through contact with articles such as bed linens, clothing or towels, but this is extremely rare. Lice can’t live away from the warmth of a human body very long, and their feet don’t allow for walking on or attaching to smooth surfaces, so they generally are limited to staying on their hosts.
Can I get public lice by sitting on a toilet? This commonly expressed concern is quite overstated. As noted, lice can’t live away from the warmth of a human body very long, and their feet don’t allow for walking on or attaching to smooth surfaces, so they generally are limited to staying on their hosts.

 pubicLice

What do pubic lice look like? Pubic lice have three forms: the egg (also called a nit), the nymph, and the adult.

  • Nit: Nits are lice eggs. When seen, they are usually found firmly attached to the hair shaft. They are oval and usually yellow to white. Pubic nits hatch in about 6–10 days.
  • Nymph: The nymph is a young, immature louse that just hatched from the nit. Pubic lice nymphs take about 2–3 weeks after hatching to mature into adults capable of reproducing. To live, a nymph must feed on blood.
  • Adult: The adult pubic louse resembles a miniature crab. Pubic lice have six legs; their two front legs are very large and look like the pincher claws of a crab. Pubic lice are tan to grayish-white in color. Females are usually larger than males. In can’t you’re thinking that doesn’t matter to those infected, it should because females lay eggs, continuing the cycle that causes human discomfort. To live, lice must feed on blood. If the louse falls off a person, it dies within 1–2 days. 

What are the signs and symptoms of pubic lice? The symptoms of pubic lice infestation include genital itching, visible lice eggs (nits) or visible crawling lice.
How is a pubic lice infestation diagnosed? The diagnosis of pubic lice is simply made by visualizing a louse or nit (egg) in the pubic hair or elsewhere. It is more common to need a magnifying glass to identify lice or eggs.
How are pubic lice treated? We will go into the treatment of pubic lice in some detail in an additional Straight, No Chaser. It’s too important to simply give a quick answer on this.

Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of 844-SMA-TALK and http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA). Enjoy some of our favorite posts and frequently asked questions as well as a daily note explaining the benefits of SMA membership. Please share our page with your Friends on WordPress, on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.

Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress