How can you find out if you have pubic lice? - briefly
Inspect the genital region for intense itching and for small, crab‑shaped insects or white, oval eggs attached to hair shafts. Confirm the presence with a medical professional’s visual examination and receive prescribed treatment.
How can you find out if you have pubic lice? - in detail
Pubic lice infestations are identified through direct examination of the affected area. The adult parasite measures 1–2 mm, appears as a gray‑brown crab‑shaped insect, and clings to coarse hair. Visual inspection should focus on the pubic region, but can extend to axillary hair, chest, abdomen, beard, moustache, and even eyelashes or eyebrows if symptoms are present.
Typical signs include:
- Small, dark specks resembling pepper grains attached to hair shafts; these are the nits (eggs) cemented near the base of the hair.
- Live insects moving slowly across the skin; they are rarely seen in motion but may be detected when the skin is gently brushed.
- Intense itching caused by an allergic reaction to the lice saliva; scratching often leads to secondary skin irritation.
- Red or inflamed papules surrounding the hair follicles, sometimes accompanied by a faint, grayish discoloration of the hair.
Diagnostic steps:
- Gather a magnifying device (hand lens or dermatoscope) to enhance visibility of the tiny organisms and their eggs.
- Separate hair from the skin using a fine‑toothed comb or a disposable lice comb; run the comb from the base toward the tip, inspecting each pass for attached insects or nits.
- Examine the comb and hair under magnification; nits appear as oval, translucent or brownish structures firmly attached to the shaft, while adult lice are larger, with six legs and a distinct crab‑like silhouette.
- Inspect other body regions where coarse hair exists, especially if the primary site shows no evidence but symptoms persist.
- Consider laboratory confirmation only if visual identification is ambiguous; a specimen can be collected with a sterile swab and sent to a clinical laboratory for microscopic analysis.
If any of the described elements are observed, the presence of pubic lice is confirmed, and appropriate treatment—typically a topical pediculicide applied according to medical guidelines—should be initiated promptly.