A to Z Medical DiseasesPractical Information on Medical Diseases

People get infected by public lice through physical intimacy between partners as the infection is liable to be transmitted. The infection is obtained via contact when the garment or similar articles of the infected persons are used by others.

Unlike other sexually transmitted diseases, public lice, commonly referred to as the “crabs,” due to their appearance when viewed under a microscope, can be treated through either over-the-counter medications or ones that are prescribed by a doctor.

A one-percent solution of permethrin or pyrethrin lice shampoo, also known as pediculicide, is highly recommended to treat a case of the crabs, or public lice. Products like this can be found at your local drugstore and do not require a physician’s prescription. When followed according to the manufacturer’s directions, the application of this type of medication is highly effective. There is a prescription medication available through your family physician called Lindane. However, this is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women and children that are younger than two years old.

It is essential to see that the medication should not reach the eyes while it is applied.

1. The affected part should be meticulously washed and dried with the help of a towel.

2. Apply the solution on the pubic hair area properly. Keep the over the counter medicines to remain on the affected part of the body for a minimum of 10 minutes and for prescription drugs for 4 minutes. Use plain water to wash out the area of any medicine and get it dried properly with a towel.

3. After the treatment, dead nits will still be attached to hair follicles and need to be removed by either using your fingernails or some type of comb that accompanies the medication.

4. After the removal of the dead nits, fresh garments have to be put on.

5. You must also kill any lice and nits that may be attached to your clothing and bedding. Make sure when cleaning any machine washable items to include all that you have come in contact with three days prior to the treatment. All machine washed items should be cleaned at a high temperature of at least 130F. Make sure to dry all machine-washed material at the hottest setting for 20 minutes at least. Dry clean any clothing that is not machine washable.

6. Sexual partners must be informed about the situation for their concern to take necessary measure by undergoing treatment.

7. Avoid any sexual contact for at least two weeks while you examine and see if the efforts you have taken have been successful.

8. If after 10 days crabs are still present, retreat and re-do the steps outlined above.

You may be lucky and find only a few nits on infected eyebrows and eyelashes that can be easily removed with your fingernails or a nit comb. However, if these areas are heavily infected, you’ll need to acquire a prescription issued ophthalmic-grade petroleum to treat the eyelids twice a day for two weeks. Do not use any over-the-counter petroleum jelly because this will likely irritate your eyes.

Tamali E. Burns authored this content to educate people on how to properly apply pubic lice treatment and knowledge. Receiving rid of pubic lice is a tough task which often doesn’t work on the first take. Proper action is required to successfully rid these annoying pests.