Editing Crab louse (section)

==Infestation of humans==
{{Main|Pediculosis pubis}}
[[File:Pubic lice on eye-lashes.jpg|thumb|Crab lice on [[eyelash]]es]]
[[File:Crab louse 01.webm|thumb|Live louse magnified about 10x|right]]
[[File:Crab louse 02.webm|thumb|Live louse magnified about 10x|right]]
Infestation of the eyelashes is referred to as pediculosis ciliaris or phthiriasis palpebrarum.<ref>Manjunatha NP, Jayamanne GR, Desai SP, Moss TR, Lalik J, Woodland A. Pediculosis pubis: presentation to ophthalmologist as phthriasis palpebrarum associated with corneal epithelial keratitis. Int. J. STD AIDS 2006; 17: 424–426</ref>

The main symptom of infestation with crab lice is [[itch]]ing, usually in the pubic-hair area, resulting from [[hypersensitivity]] to louse saliva, which can become stronger over two or more weeks following initial infestation. In some infestations, a characteristic grey-blue or slate coloration appears (''maculae caeruleae'') at the feeding site, which may last for several days.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

[[File:Crab egg.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Crab louse egg on human body hair]]

The prevalence varies between 0.3% to 4.6% with an estimated average of 2% with an increase during war, disasters and in overcrowding.<ref name="l358">{{cite journal |last1=Patel |first1=P. U. |last2=Tan |first2=A. |last3=Levell |first3=N. J. |date=2021 |title=A clinical review and history of pubic lice |journal=Clinical and Experimental Dermatology |volume=46 |issue=7 |pages=1181–1188 |doi=10.1111/ced.14666 |pmid=33811771 |issn=1365-2230}}</ref> Crab louse infestations are not considered a reportable condition by many health authorities, and many cases are self-treated or treated discreetly by physicians.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Anderson AL, Chaney E |title=Pubic lice (''Pthirus pubis''): history, biology and treatment vs. knowledge and beliefs of US college students |journal=Int J Environ Res Public Health |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=592–600 |date=February 2009 |pmid=19440402 |pmc=2672365 |doi=10.3390/ijerph6020592 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

It has been suggested that an increasing percentage of humans [[Body grooming|removing]] their pubic hair, especially in women, has led to reduced crab louse populations in some parts of the world.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1 = Armstrong|first1 = N. R.|last2 = Wilson|first2 = J. D.
|title = Did the "Brazilian" kill the pubic louse?|doi = 10.1136/sti.2005.018671|journal = Sexually Transmitted Infections|volume = 82|issue = 3|pages = 265–266|year = 2006|pmid = 16731684|pmc =2564756}}</ref><ref>Bloomberg: [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-13/brazilian-bikini-waxes-make-crab-lice-endangered-species-health.html Brazilian bikini waxes make crab lice endangered species], published 13 January 2013, retrieved 14 January 2013</ref>

[[File:Crab Lice CDC.png|thumb|right|300px|Crab lice]]
While crab lice are not known to transmit disease, the possibility has been raised they may be a vector for [[Bartonella|Bartonella spp]]. and [[Acinetobacter|Acinetobacter spp]] which might require further study.<ref name="l3582">{{cite journal |last1=Patel |first1=P. U. |last2=Tan |first2=A. |last3=Levell |first3=N. J. |date=2021 |title=A clinical review and history of pubic lice |journal=Clinical and Experimental Dermatology |volume=46 |issue=7 |pages=1181–1188 |doi=10.1111/ced.14666 |pmid=33811771 |issn=1365-2230}}</ref> In infested individuals an average of a dozen lice can be found. Although they are typically found attached to hair in the pubic area, sometimes they are also found on coarse hair elsewhere on the body (for example, [[eyebrow]]s, [[eyelashes]], [[beard]], [[moustache]], [[chest]], [[axilla|armpits]], etc.). They do not generally occur on the finer hair of the scalp.<ref name="service"/><ref name=1a>{{cite journal|last=Nuttall|first=GHF|title=The biology of Phthirus pubis|journal=Parasitology|year=1918|volume=10|issue=3|pages=383–405|doi=10.1017/s0031182000003954|url=https://zenodo.org/record/1428632}}</ref> Crab lice attach to pubic hair that is thicker than other body hair because their claws are adapted to the specific diameter of pubic hair and other thick hairs of the body.<ref name=":1" /> Crab louse infestations ([[Pediculosis pubis|pthiriasis]]) are usually spread through sexual contact and are most common in adults.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Williams gynecology|date=2012|publisher=McGraw-Hill Medical |author=Hoffman, Barbara L. |author2=Williams, J. Whitridge |isbn=9780071716727|edition=2nd|location=New York|oclc=779244257}}</ref><ref name="cdc1"/><ref name="cdc2"/> The crab louse can travel up to {{convert|25|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} on the body. Crab louse infestation is found worldwide and occurs in all races and ethnic groups and in all [[Socioeconomic status|socio-economic levels]]. Occasionally they may be also transmitted by close personal contact or contact with articles such as clothing, bed linen, and towels that have been used by an infested person.<ref name="cdc3"/><ref name="cdc4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/lice/about/pubic-lice.html |title=About Pubic "Crab" Lice  |website=[[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] |language=en-us |access-date=2024-10-13 |date=2024-06-04}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>

Crab lice found on the head or eyelashes of children may be an indication of sexual exposure or abuse.<ref name="Klaus et al. 1994">{{cite journal |vauthors=Klaus S, Shvil Y, Mumcuoglu KY |title= Generalized infestation of a 3 1/2-year-old girl with the pubic louse |journal=Pediatric Dermatology |year=1994 |volume=11 |issue=1| pages=26–8| doi=10.1111/j.1525-1470.1994.tb00068.x|pmid= 8170844 |s2cid= 5989980 }}</ref> Symptoms of crab louse infestation in the pubic area include itching, redness and inflammation. Crab lice are not known to transmit disease;{{cn|date=April 2021}} however, secondary [[Pathogenic bacteria|bacterial infection]] can occur from scratching of the skin.

Crab louse infestation can be diagnosed by identifying the presence of active stages of the louse, as well as of eggs (nits) on the pubic hair and other hairs of the body. When infestation is diagnosed, other family members and contact persons should also be examined. A magnifying glass or [[Dermatoscopy|dermoscope]] could be used for better identification.<ref name=":1" />