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Improved hygiene and access to regular changes of clean clothes is the only treatment needed for body lice infestations. Images: Pictures of two adult body lice. (Credit: PHIL , CDC)
- Disease
When body lice infestation is long lasting, heavily bitten...
- General Information
Education and information about lice, body lice, body lice...
- Pubic
Dogs, cats, and other pets do not play a role in the...
- Disease
- Overview
- Head lice
- Pubic lice
- Body lice
- Is it bed bugs?
- Outlook
Lice are parasites that live on the skin. Most are harmless to overall health, but they cause tiny bites, which can be bothersome. Different types of lice have different features, but they can all cause itching.
There are two kinds of lice: chewing lice, which feed on the skin and debris, and sucking lice, which feed on the blood.
Only sucking lice live on humans. Types include head lice, pubic lice, and body lice.
In this article, learn to identify lice by their appearance and where on the body they feed. We also describe the difference between lice bites and bed bug bites.
Head lice are small, gray insects about 2–3 millimeters (mm) in length. They live on the scalp, where they feed on human blood and lay eggs at the base of hair shafts.
The eggs of head lice are commonly known as nits, and they are tiny and translucent. The empty eggshells are white, and they can remain stuck to the hair for up to 6 months. A person is most likely to find them at the nape of the neck and behind the ears.
Head lice:
•do not transmit diseases, though their bites can occasionally expose the host to secondary infections
•lay around six eggs a day
•are transmitted through head-to-head contact and shared objects, including brushes, headwear, towels, and pillows
Pubic lice, also known as “crabs,” infect the genital area. They may also reside in armpit or facial hair. At 1.1–1.8 mm, they are smaller than head or body lice.
Pubic lice are primarily transmitted through sexual contact. Less commonly, a person can get pubic lice by sharing towels, blankets, or clothing.
Signs and symptoms of pubic lice include:
•itching in the genital region or anus, which may intensify at night
•pale blue spots close to bites
•louse droppings, which resemble dark brown powder on the skin or in the underwear
Body lice are between 2.3–3.6 mm in length and tan or gray. They live in bedding and clothing and crawl onto the skin several times a day to feed.
They tend to bite areas of the body where the seams of clothing come into contact with the skin. These include the neck, shoulders, armpits, waist, and groin.
People with body lice may experience itching and rashes if they have allergic reactions to the bites.
Some thickening or darkening of the skin may also occur after prolonged periods of infestation.
Body lice:
•are most often spread through close contact with infected individuals
When a person finds bites on their body, they may be unsure whether they have body lice or bed bugs. Bed bugs are not lice, but they also feed on human blood.
While body lice exist almost exclusively in areas with overcrowding and unsanitary conditions, bed bugs rarely indicate a lack of cleanliness or personal hygiene.
Bed bugs tend to enter the home on luggage, through shared bedding, or on used furniture.
At around 1–7 mm, bed bugs are larger than lice, and a bed bug infestation can create an almond-like smell. A person may also see discarded exoskeletons in bedding.
While body lice tend to bite during the day, bed bugs bite at night, when the host is lying in the infected area.
Due to their preference for dark places, they are difficult to spot without a flashlight.
Body lice can carry diseases, but other types of lice usually cause no lasting harm. Accurate identification is essential for establishing the most appropriate treatment.
If a person is unsure of the cause of bites, they should speak to a doctor for a diagnosis.
You can easily identify lice using these these five distinct features: color, shape, size, lice eggs, and symptoms. This article has over 30 pictures or lice, so you'll be a pro in no time... 1. Lice Color. See all the different colors of head lice in the pictures below. 2. Lice Shape and Distinct Features.
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Feb 22, 2022 · To recognize body lice symptoms, look for itchy skin or tiny red bumps especially around the neck, armpit, and groin. You should also turn your clothing inside out and check the seams for lice eggs, or nits, which are small, yellow and white ovals.
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Step-by-Step Video System. The 4 Types of Lice. Lice are bugs that range from being microscopic at birth to about the size of a sesame seed as adults. Lice require a human host as they need to feed on human blood frequently. There are three types of lice that live on humans: head lice, body lice, and pubic lice.
Nov 5, 2023 · Here's everything you need to know about head, body, and pubic lice, including pictures of what they look like, treatments, and prevention.
Aug 4, 2017 · Body lice—Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, how to get rid of this itchy infestation.
