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What Are Body Lice?

There are three types of lice that live on humans: body, head and pubic lice. Of the three, only the body louse is known to spread disease. Body lice infect humans and feed off their blood. Body lice may have originated over 100,00 years ago from the head louse. They are very similar in form to the head louse but lay their eggs in the human host's clothing instead of their hair. The condition of being infested with lice is called pediculosis. Body lice don't adjust well to changing temperatures and must have a human host to survive.

  1. Life Cycle

    • Females lay eggs in seams of bedding or clothing of a human host. Eggs can hatch in 5 to 10 days but may lay dormant for up to 30 days. The eggs hatch into nymphs and they spend most of their time living in clothing or bedding, only feeding on the host while it is at rest. A female louse will lay 200 to 300 eggs during her life span. Without a host, lice will die within two to five days.

    Contagion

    • Lice are spread by close contact with another infected individual. Many times, body lice outbreaks are found in areas where people are living in close quarters. Body lice can not be obtained from cats or dogs.

    Identification

    • Because body lice are so small, it is sometimes hard to determine if there is an infestation. Most infected people will have itching, which will alert one of the problem. There may be red bumps or a rash that also accompany body lice. You can see body lice with the human eye, but may need a magnifying glass to properly identify them.

    Effects

    • If left untreated, body lice can turn into a true medical issue. Prolonged exposure to body lice can cause extreme headaches, joint pain and a condition called "vagabond disease" that is a thickening of the skin from extreme and prolonged scratching. With any prolonged itching, there is a risk of infection from open sores. Body lice can also be responsible for spreading epidemics such as typhus and trench fever.

    Prevention

    • Body lice can be avoided by changing bedding each week and washing clothing regularly. If you think someone might have body lice, avoid sharing clothing or bedding with them.

    Solution

    • If you think you have body lice, you can eradicate them on your own. Washing all clothing and bedding in water of at least 130 degrees and drying on the hottest cycle will help remove lice. Maintaining good hygiene will also ensure lice will be killed. Making sure to change bedding and clothing regularly helps keep lice away along with regular bathing.

    When to Visit a Doctor

    • It is a good idea to visit a doctor if you are unable to eliminate lice on your own, especially if you have open sores from itching. Your doctor may prescribe treatments to completely rid yourself of lice. If you think you may have body lice, make sure to take steps to stop infestation of others by not sharing any bedding or clothing. Your doctor may prescribe a drug called Lindane if washing clothing and bathing doesn't contain body lice.

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