Pubic Lice

The photo shows pubic lice in the pubic hair of groin area.

• This patient presented with an infestation of Phthirus pubis, or crab lice.
• Pubic lice are tiny wingless insects that live only on human beings.
• The primary mode of transmission is via the skin-to-skin contact that occurs during sexual intercourse. Lice are very contagious. There is a 95% chance of transmission during a single episode of sexual intercourse. Rarely they may be transmitted via objects such as infected bed linens or toilet seats.

From the CDC's Public Health Image Library (http://phil.cdc.gov), ID#4078, in the public domain.

Content Providers: CDC / Joe Miller.

Pubic Louse

• This is an enlargement of a Phthirus pubis, or more commonly known as the pubic or crab louse.
• Pubic lice are tiny wingless insects that live only on human beings.
• The primary mode of transmission is via the skin-to-skin contact that occurs during sexual intercourse. Lice are very contagious. There is a 95% chance of transmission during a single episode of sexual intercourse. Rarely they may be transmitted via objects such as infected bed linens or toilet seats.

From the CDC's Public Health Image Library (http://phil.cdc.gov), ID#4077, in the public domain.