July 2, 2007

Pubic lice ! How do you catch them?  

Pubic lice ! How do you catch them?

Pubic lice are sometimes called crabs. They live in coarse body hair, such as pubic hair, but can also live in underarm hair, on hairy legs and chests and occasionally in beards, eyebrows and eyelashes.

They're yellow-grey in colour, measure about 2mm long and have large, crab-like claws with which they fasten themselves to hair.

Pubic lice are easily passed on through sexual contact, or through close physical contact.

  • they crawl from hair to hair; they don't fly or jump
  • the eggs of the lice can survive away from the body for up to 24 hours, so it's possible for them to be passed on by sharing clothes, bedding or towels
  • pubic lice are different to head lice
You can't catch pubic lice from sharing cups, plates or cutlery, or from toilet seats or swimming pools.

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