Crabs

Crabs are the most common sexually transmitted infection. 4 out of 100 gay men report having them in the last year. Most people treat themselves at home.

‘Crabs’, also called ‘pubic lice’, are common and easy to pick up. The lice are small, crab-shaped insects that live on body hair, feeding on blood (but they cannot pass on HIV). They are the size of a pin-head when fully grown.
The lice are found in:

• the hair around your balls, arse and cock
• also on underarm hair, hairy legs and chests
• sometimes in eyebrows and hair on the face (but not hair on the head). 

The lice can live away from the body for about 24 hours, so they could survive on clothes, bedding and towels.

What does it look like?

You could have ‘crabs’ and not notice them, but;

• two to three weeks after infection the lice usually cause itching, especially at night, sometimes causing a rash.
• You can often see fully-grown lice on the hair (but usually not if you’ve recently been infected).

How’s it passed on?

• By body contact during sex.
• By using the towels, bedding or clothes of someone with ‘crabs’ (not common but it can happen). If a partner has ‘crabs’, it doesn’t necessarily mean they got them by having sex with someone else.

How is it prevented?

There’s no way of preventing infection with ‘crabs’. But if you have them you can prevent them spreading by:

• making sure that people who’ve shared your bed, towels or clothes are also treated.
• Washing on a hot wash any bedding, towels and clothes used by someone with ‘crabs’. This kills the lice and their eggs.
• Leather clothing can be dry cleaned

How are they treated?

Treating ‘crabs’ is cheap, easy and can be done at home.

• Lotions can be bought from chemists for a few pounds (no prescription needed).
• You can get lotions free at GUM clinics.
• Lotions include Quellada, Derbac, Prioderm and Lyclear.
• You put the lotion over your whole body, but not on your head or face.
• You leave it on for 24 hours.
• Pick off any lice you see left on your body.
• If the treatment doesn’t work ask a GUM clinic for advice.
• Shaving off pubic hair will not get rid of ‘crabs’.
• No one is immune to ‘crabs.’ If you had them before you can get them again.