Ms. Li, 58 years old, is supposed to be full of ease and freedom in her retirement. Recently, however, she encountered a very troublesome thing - the itching of her pussy kept her awake at night. At first, she thought it was just an ordinary skin problem and used some common skin plasters, but the effect was not obvious. To make matters worse, the itching got worse, especially at night, and even made it impossible for her to sleep. In desperation, she went to the hospital for an examination. After careful examination, the doctor told her that she was infected with pubic lice, which made Ms. Li extremely confused and embarrassed. She usually has a regular life and rest, how could she get this disease?
Through Ms. Li's experience, we have led to today's topic: What is pubic lice? Why are more and more people now infected with pubic lice? How does it spread?
Part I: What is pubic lice?
1.1 Basic concepts of pubic lice
Pubic lice are small parasites that live on human hair and live mainly by sucking blood. It is tiny in shape, about 1-2 mm long, grayish-brown in color, and usually parasitic on pubic hair, but can also infect other hairy areas such as the armpits, chest, and even eyebrows and eyelashes. Pubic lice rely on clinging to the hair, sucking blood by piercing the skin through its sharp mouthparts.
The life cycle of pubic lice is divided into three parts: egg, nymph, and adult. Adults lay eggs on their hairs, and after the eggs hatch into nymphs, they develop into adults and continue to parasitize and suck blood. They spread through contact with the surface of the skin, especially in areas where hair is concentrated.
1.2 Symptoms of pubic lice
One of the main symptoms of an infected pubic lice is persistent, intense itching, especially in the genitals or other infected, hairy areas. This itching is especially noticeable at night and may keep people awake at night. In addition, pubic lice often suck blood from areas with red rashes, scratches, and pigmentation. Repeated scratching due to itching may cause skin breakdown, which can lead to secondary bacterial infections.
Ms. Li's case is a classic pubic lice infestation. She initially ignored the symptom and only got worse within a few weeks, eventually causing visible scratches and redness on her skin before she went to the hospital.
1.3 Harm of pubic lice to the human body
Although pubic lice are not directly life-threatening, they can have a serious impact on the daily life and health of patients. Long-term untreated pubic lice infestation, in addition to making people suffer from itching, can also lead to skin ulcers and even secondary bacterial infections. For older people with weakened immunity, infection with pubic lice is more likely to complicate skin infections or other health problems.
In addition, pubic lice are very contagious, especially in public places such as hotels, swimming pools, etc., and the risk of transmission of pubic lice will be greatly increased if the hygiene is not good. This is one of the reasons why some people still get pubic lice even with good lifestyle habits.
Part II: Transmission routes of pubic lice
2.1 Sexual transmission
The main route of transmission of pubic lice is through direct skin-to-skin contact, especially sexual contact. As a result, pubic lice are often classified as one of the sexually transmitted diseases. Its claws are able to grip the hair tightly and easily transmit it to others through contact with the skin or hair. In sexual contact, pubic lice can be easily transmitted from one party to another, and both young and old people can become infected through close contact.
Even older people can get pubic lice if they don't pay attention to sexual hygiene when entering a new intimate relationship. Doctors remind that maintaining good sexual hygiene is an important aspect of preventing pubic lice, especially avoiding unclean sexual contact.
2.2 Indirect contact transmission
In addition to sexual contact, pubic lice can also be spread through shared items. Using the same towel, bed sheets, clothing, or even sitting on an unclean public seat in everyday life can lead to the spread of pubic lice. If these items are not thoroughly disinfected, pubic lice and their eggs may attach to them and infect others through contact.
In public places, especially in guesthouses, hotels, etc., bedding and towels can become breeding grounds for pubic lice if they are not effectively disinfected. Therefore, it is possible that Ms. Li was infected through uncleaned bed sheets when she was staying outside.
2.3 Communication in public places
Some people are susceptible to pubic lice in public places such as swimming pools, locker rooms, gyms, or hotels. Due to the large flow of people and the humid environment, public facilities are prone to breed various bacteria and parasites. If the hygienic conditions in these settings are not up to standard, the chance of pubic lice transmission can also increase significantly.
Ms. Li had stayed in a poor hotel on a trip, and shortly after this stay, she began to experience itching in her genitals. Combined with the doctor's analysis, it is likely that Ms. Li was accidentally infected with pubic lice during this stay. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain a high level of hygiene awareness when using public facilities.
Part III: How to prevent and treat pubic lice?
3.1 Diagnosis and treatment of pubic lice
Diagnosis of pubic lice is relatively straightforward, and doctors usually look at the base of pubic hair with the naked eye, and with the help of a magnifying glass, pubic lice and their eggs can be easily spotted. For people with more severe infections, your doctor may recommend further laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis.
In terms of treatment, a common treatment is the use of topical insecticide lotions or ointments, such as Baibu tincture, lindane cream, etc. These medications are effective in killing pubic lice and their eggs. Patients should shave the affected area of hair during treatment to prevent pubic lice from attaching and remultiplying. In addition, the patient's clothing, bed sheets, towels and other items should also be washed and disinfected in time to completely eliminate the source of infection.
3.2 Practical advice for preventing pubic lice
- Maintain sexual hygiene: Avoid unclean sexual contact, especially for older people when entering a new intimate relationship, and pay attention to the hygiene of both partners to ensure that sexual partners do not have symptoms or sources of infection.
- Avoid sharing personal items: Do not share towels, bed sheets, clothing, etc. with others, especially in public places, try to use your own items to ensure that personal hygiene products are clean and hygienic.
- Pay attention to the hygiene of public places: when using public facilities such as hotels, swimming pools, gyms, etc., try to choose places with better sanitary conditions, especially pay attention to the cleanliness of bed sheets, towels, and bath towels. If possible, it is best to bring personal towels and bed linen.
3.3 Real cases: the diagnosis and treatment of pubic lice
After Ms. Li was diagnosed with pubic lice, the doctor prescribed Lin Dan cream and advised her to shave her pubic hair and wash and disinfect her clothes and bed linen thoroughly. After a week of medication, Ms. Li's itching symptoms improved significantly, and the pubic lice were completely removed. Another 70-year-old man was infected with pubic lice in the hotel many times because he did not pay attention to his living habits, and after the doctor's guidance, he changed his hygiene habits when traveling and completely avoided re-infection.
Conclusion: Raise awareness of hygiene and stay away from pubic lice
Although pubic lice do not pose a direct threat to life, they are highly contagious and have stubborn symptoms, which seriously affect the quality of daily life. Through the explanation of this article, I believe that readers have a clear understanding of the transmission route of pubic lice, and grasp how to effectively prevent and respond to this disease in daily life.
Strengthening personal hygiene, avoiding unclean contact, and raising hygiene awareness in public places are key to preventing pubic lice infestation. If you experience similar symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid getting worse or infecting others. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and paying attention to the details of hygiene can help us stay away from pubic lice and enjoy a healthier life