Lice Infestation Causes Intense Itching Symptoms for Nit, Nymph and Louse Pediculosis Treatment

Got lice? Got intense itching? Got pediculosis?  Pediculosis means an infestation of lice.  And lice infestations cause intense itching.

Lice are contagious. Dogs, cats or other pets do not spread human lice. Humans spread human lice.  Lice don’t fly nor hop, they crawl.

Human lice are parasitic insects.  These parasites live on you, or another, for their nutrient dependent lifestyle.  You are their host and they make a meal of your blood.

An adult lice is called a louse, prior to maturity they’re referred to as a nymph and their eggs are nits. There are three types of human lice:

  • pthirus pubis ~ pubic lice, aka crabs
  • pediculus humanus capitis ~ head lice
  • pediculus humanus corporis ~ body lice

Only pediculus humanus corporis is known to spread infectious diseases, like typhus, trench fever and relapsing fever.

Intense itching is the predominant symptom for all types of pediculosis.

Head lice cause tickling feeling symptoms that results in your intense itching.  As for body lice, intense itching plus a rash can be expected. The rash is caused by an allergic reaction to louse and nymph bites.

Intense itching leads to scratching, which can cause sores, that may culminate in a bacterial or fungal skin infection.  So don’ scratch, treat instead.

There are OTC pediculosis medications for the treatment of your head, body or pubic lice infestations.

Without a source of blood, body lice can survive for about 10 days, head lice 3 days and pubic lice for a day. Thus, treatment of louse, nymph and nits must go beyond your body and into your surrounding environment.

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