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Body lice - Symptom

Alternative Names

Lice - body

Symptoms:

Intense itching
Red bumps on the skin
Areas around the waist or groin may become thickened or discolored when lice have been present for a long time

Signs and tests:

Your doctor can usually diagnose this condition by looking at your skin and clothing.

Full-grown lice are the size of a sesame seed, have six legs, and are tan to greyish-white.
Nits are lice eggs. They will most often be seen in the clothing of someone with lice, most commonly around the waist and in the armpits.

Persons with body lice should also be checked for head and pubic lice.

Body louse

Lice, body with stool (Pediculus humanus)

Body louse, female and larvae

Head louse and pubic louse

Reviewed last on: 12/11/2009
Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Diaz JH. Lice (pediculosis). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 293.

Body lice: Fact sheet: CDC. Page last reviewed: May 16, 2008. Accessed December 11, 2009.

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