Crabs, What They Are and How to Get Rid of Them

QUESTION: I guess most people shudder a bit when they think about a condition
called "crabs," but I still think you should offer a bit of information and
advice. Can you tell me what they are and how they arrive on a person, and
most important, how to get rid of them? I sincerely believe that this
question is as important to write about as any other subject you cover in your
column.
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ANSWER: You are right. I suspect there may be a few other people who may be
as interested as you are. Simply speaking crabs are another type of lice
(phthirus pubis), and get their name from the fact that they closely resemble
(but are in no way related to) the crabs seen on the shores and beaches.
Because of their adaptation, they live in only certain hairy areas of the
body, most often the pubic area, but also underarms, eyelashes and even
mustaches. However they do not normally invade the head, the domain of
another critter called the head louse. The need body warmth, about 87 degrees
F. to survive, and live by feeding on your blood. It is their bites which
causes the maddening itch that draws attention to their presence. They are
spread most commonly through sexual contact with an infected individual, but
can be gotten from contaminated toilet seats, clothing, towels and infested
bed sheets. Usually the diagnosis is made easily, by actually detecting a
crab louse on the skin of the patient. Though the condition is frightening,
the cures are both simple and effective. There are a number of
over-the-counter shampoos, lotions and sprays which, when properly used, can
eradicate the lice and their eggs. Your pharmacist or physician can guide you
in their proper choice and use. One additional word of caution. Since, in
the majority of cases, crabs are transmitted through sexual intercourse, it is
a wise precaution to request a complete examination from your physician
checking for the possibility of other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) that
may have been unwanted companions of these more noticeable visitors.