Body lice

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Body louse

Body louse, female and larvae

Head louse and pubic louse

Lice, body with stool (Pediculus humanus)

Body lice are tiny parasitic insects (Pediculus humanus corporis) that spread through close contact with other people.

Lice - body

There are three types of lice:

• Head lice
• Body lice
• Pubic lice

Public and head lice are much smaller than body lice. This article focuses on body lice.

Lice feed on human blood, and they lay their eggs and deposit waste matter on the skin and clothing. A body lice infection causes intense itching. When body lice are not feeding on blood, they live in the seams and folds of clothing. Body lice are transmitted by contact with infected clothing and bedding as well as by direct contact with an infected person.

Risk factors include close (overcrowded) living conditions and poor hygiene.

Review Date: 10/17/2006
Reviewed By: Jonathan Kantor, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.