Pubic lice

How do you get them?

Although you can catch crabs by sexual contact, pubic lice can also be transmitted in other ways, like sharing towels with an infected person.

What are the symptoms?

If you've caught crabs, you might have some or all of these symptoms:

• genital itching (from an allergic reaction to the lice bites)
• tiny blood spots on your undies (this is where you have been bitten)
• tiny blue spots on the skin around your genitals
• tiny lice or tiny eggs (nits)

Scratching can transfer the lice to other parts of your body that have coarse hair, like your legs, armpits, and even eyebrows and eyelashes.

How do you know if you've got pubic lice?

You can usually find out by looking closely to see the lice and/or the eggs, but they may be so tiny that a microscope is needed.

Is there a cure?

Yes, pubic lice can be easily treated! They are uncomfortable, but not dangerous. At the chemist you can buy special products to kill the lice and the eggs. Other things you might have to do are:

• There are special treatments available for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and babies
• Let your sexual partner and family know they might need treatment. They may have lice if you do.
• Dry clean or hot-wash your clothes and bed linen.
• If you can't wash your things, they can be put into a plastic bag and sealed for 2 weeks to make sure the lice are dead.

If the treatment doesn't work after a week, you may need to do it again. If you still have symptoms after a second treatment, have your worries checked out by a professional. To find out where you can go for a sexual health check, call FPA Healthline on 1300 658 886 to talk to a reproductive and sexual health nurse. Talking to the nurse is confidential and anonymous.

If I go to a clinic will they tell my parents?

According to the law you can ask for and agree to medical care for yourself once you are 16 years old. At the sexual health clinic the information you give the staff is completely confidential. It cannot be shared with your parents or people you know, unless the law requires staff to do so.

An example of this would be if health staff thought you were at risk of serious harm. In this case the clinic is required to report this to DOCS (Department of Community Services). Another example might be if your files were required in a Court case. If you are between 14 and 16 you may still be able to agree to your own medical care, but this can vary in individual cases.

For more information on STIs and having a sexual health check-up, call FP NSW Healthline on 1300 65 88 86, or visit www.fpnsw.org.au.

Acknowledgements
Thanks to Family Planning NSW for preparing this factsheet.

http://www.fpnsw.org.au/