Crabs Std Treatment

Crabs or pubic lice are quite common sexually transmitted diseases or STDs. Many people all over the world get infected every year with the parasite and contract crabs. Unprotected sex and sex with multiple partners lead to the contraction of genital crabs. It can also be contracted through infected bedding, towels and clothing, though this is quite rare. Genital crabs can cause certain uncomfortable symptoms though it is not a serious health threat. But it needs to be treated as early as possible. The area that is infected with crabs is usually visible to the naked eye and causes intense itching.

But it is best to visit a doctor to be sure of the disease. The doctor would ask the affected individual about the symptoms and the medical history. Before diagnosing crabs, the doctor would physically examine the pubic hair and the hairs on the arms, legs, chest, eyebrows or face. It is necessary to look for any crabs that may be moving or the nits or eggs that they have laid. The crabs are usually yellow or white in appearance. After feeding they turn deep red.

Pubic crabs stay down deep towards the skin for feeding. So a doctor has to check the base of the pubic hair. A fully-grown crab is quite small like a sesame seed and avoids light. The nits also attach themselves to the base of the pubic hair. Often, a doctor has to take a sample of the pubic hair to analyze the crabs under a microscope. Founding of any nits or crabs proves one is infected and treatment has to begin immediately.

Treating pubic crabs and nits is quite effective and easy. Medications are available by prescription and are in the form of a shampoo. Some medicines contain pyrethrin (1%) or pymethrin (1%) and some contain lindane (1%). To remove the crabs and treat the infected areas, one has to thoroughly wash and then dry the infected areas. One should be sure of saturating the pubic hairs after applying shampoo. The shampoo should be left on the pubic hair for a few minutes and then rinsed thoroughly.

One should put on clean clothes after drying the areas properly. In order to be sure of killing all the genital crabs and nits, the clothes and linens should also be washed in hot water for at least 20 minutes and then dried completely. Those that cannot be washed should be dry cleaned and stored in bags for a few days. The existing crabs will automatically die for want of food.

If one's eyebrows or eyelashes get infected, a special treatment is required. A petroleum-based lotion is applied after the removal of the visible nits or crabs. Pregnant women should inform the doctor about their situation. Lindane can not be used during pregnancy as it gets absorbed into the body. Instead, the doctor would prescribe a shampoo with malathion which won't harm the unborn child.

Any STD treatment needs following up so as to avoid a relapse. If any symptoms remain, one can repeat the shampoo after seven to 10 days. It is equally important to get one's partner treated and avoid sex during the treatment period.

• John Palsson
• 11/06/2009, 9:59 PM
• 0 Comments