Pubic lice and Scabies: "Crabs"

You may have heard of someone getting "crabs" from sex. This happens when tiny insects spread from an infected person to you. This can happen as a result of sex, but not always. You can also get scabies and lice from using bed sheets or towels or wearing the clothes of an infected person.

The symptoms and signs:
Symptoms of scabies and lice occur when the insects either bite you or burrow into your skin to lay their eggs. With lice, you may actually see the pearly white eggs on the hair in your pubic area, close to the skin.

What to look for:

Scabies-
-itching, mainly at night
-a rash may appear between your fingers, on your wrists, abdomen, ankles, on the bend of your elbows, or around your genitals.

Pubic lice-
-perhaps an itch in the pubic area
-light brown insects the size of a pinhead may be seen
-oval, whitish eggs may be seen on the hair.

How scabies and lice are treated:
Scabies and lice may be treated easily with special creams, lotions or shampoos, which are available at a drugstore. Ask the pharmacist for help, and then follow the directions carefully.
If you don't treat scabies or lice, you may get a skin infection that will require a visit to a doctor.
Avoid close body contact with others if you have scabies or lice. Get treatment to avoid passing them to others.
Wash clothes and bed linen in hot water, or dry-clean and press with a very hot iron. Freezing clothes, fabrics or blankets or storing them in an air-tight plastic bag for two weeks will also destroy the insects and their eggs.
If you have scabies or pubic lice, be sure to tell your sex partners. Anyone with whom you have had close contact or who has shared your bed sheets, clothes or towels should be treated, even if they don't have an itch or rash.