ABSTRACT
Pediculosis pubis (PP) is an ectoparasitosis caused by Phthirus pubis and typically transmitted by sexual or intimate contact. Accurate epidemiologic data are difficult to collect because PP cases are rigorously registered. However, the infestation occurs worldwide and affects both genders being particularly prevalent in groups that live in crowded spaces with poor sanitary conditions. Pruritus, due to lice bites and saliva's hypersensitivity, is the main symptom of PP. Clinical signs mainly include erythematous papules, scratching lesions, and bluish macules at the site of crab bites, especially on the lower abdomen and thighs. Different pruritic dermatosis may simulate PP of the genital area, such as scabies, tinea cruris, trichomycosis, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. The diagnosis of PP is usually clinical, based on the identification of the crab lice, nymphs, or nits at close inspection, possibly with the aid of a magnifying glass.
