Body Lice and Pubic Lice

C. W. Scherer, P. G. Koehler, and J. W. Diclaro II

Release Date: 2/13/2022

Reviewed At: 2/4/2025

DOI: 10.32473/edis-ig084-2001

Agriculture

Abstract

This document provides an overview of body lice and pubic lice, detailing their biology, transmission, symptoms, and treatment. Body lice, which can transmit diseases like typhus, are less common in the U.S., while pubic lice are a significant nuisance. Both types of lice are blood-sucking insects that cause itching and irritation. Treatment involves washing clothing and bedding in hot water and using medicated shampoos or creams. The document emphasizes the importance of hygiene and alerting sexual partners in cases of pubic lice infestation.

About this Publication

This document is ENY-208, one of a series of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date January 1996. Revised March 2003, July 2011, and February 2022. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

C. W. Scherer, former graduate assistant; P. G. Koehler, emeritus professor; and Joseph W. Diclaro II, graduate student in medical entomology, Department of Entomology and Nematology; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.