• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Body lice

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

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

Alternative Names:

Lice - body

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.