Scabies, other mites, and pediculosis. Pubic lice are parasitic insects that infest the genital or pubic areas of humans. Think you might have an STD? New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://accessmedicine.com. Parasites: Lice. Pubic lice, commonly called crabs, are tiny insects found in your genital area. In children, pubic lice may be found in their eyebrows or eyelashes and can be a sign of sexual abuse. Or you may use a magnifying glass to see them. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Learn about pubic lice symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. blue spots or small spots of blood on your skin, such as on your thighs or lower abdomen (caused by lice bites). Signs and symptoms of pubic lice include itching in the affected areas (especially at night), inflammation and irritation caused by scratching, and They may also spread from close personal contact or contact with articles such as clothing, bed linens, or towels that have been used by an affected person. Signs and symptoms associated with public lice infestation include intense itching in the genital area. You may also acquire pubic lice from contaminated sheets, blankets, towels or clothes. Eyelashes or eyebrows, more commonly in children, Over-the-counter products don't kill the lice, You have any infected skin abrasions from scratching. Pediculosis pubis and pediculosis ciliaris. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Pubic lice, also known as crabs, are very small insects that infest your genital area. Pubic lice have six legs including two front legs that are very large and look like the pincher claws of a crab. The infestation typically spreads among humans by sexual contact and are considered to be a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Signs and symptoms associated with public lice infestation include intense itching in the genital area. The main symptoms of infection with the pubic lice of crabs are itching and burning of the pubic area. ©2018 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. See Additional Information. REFERENCE:Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Health concerns on your mind? 2nd ed. Pubic lice can spread to other areas with coarse body hair, including the: Seek medical advice about pubic lice treatment if: Pubic lice are most commonly transmitted during sexual activity. If you are being treated for pubic lice, all sexual partners must also be treated. All rights reserved. Itching in the genital area or any other part of the body with hair. The lice have also been referred to as crab lice or crabs. The most common way to acquire pubic lice is through sexual intercourse.