Body Lice Up Close: Pictures, Symptoms and Treatment

Getting Up Close and Personal with Body Lice

Body lice are one of three different types of lice that can live on the human body. They are tiny, wingless insects that feed on blood. While head lice and pubic lice find a permanent home in hair follicles, body lice actually live in clothing and bedding. They crawl onto the skin several times a day to take blood meals then return to fabric to lay eggs. This allows them to spread rapidly through close physical contact.

What Do Body Lice Look Like Up Close?

Body lice are very small, about the size of a sesame seed. Their bodies are only 1 to 4 mm long. They have 6 legs with claws that allow them to cling onto textiles and human hairs. Body lice are tan or grayish-white in color. Under a microscope, you can see:

• Their tiny heads have antennae and mouthparts designed for piercing skin and sucking blood
• Large eyes to detect movement and find warm-blooded hosts
• A broad mid-section behind the head where eggs develop
• Six hooked legs

The Body Louse Life Cycle

Female body lice attach their tiny white eggs directly onto fibers of clothing, bedding or fabric items stored near the body. A single louse can lay about 8 to 10 eggs per day, up to a whopping 300 eggs over a lifetime!

These nits hatch in about 1 week into baby lice called nymphs. The nymphs molt through 3 stages over 6 to 12 days as they feed on blood. Finally they mature into adult body lice who Mate and start laying more eggs to repeat the cycle.

Without a blood meal from the human host at least once every 1 to 2 days, body lice cannot survive. They dehydrate quickly away from the humid, warm environment next to human skin. This is why encouraging close contact allows them to infest others.

How Do Body Lice Spread?

Body lice cannot jump or fly - they have no wings. So how do they end up on different hosts? Their main method of transmission is through direct physical contact between people, clothing or bedding.

For example, body lice can crawl from infested fabrics onto seat cushions, beds and sofas. When an uninfested person sits or lies on these areas, the lice can rapidly crawl onto their clothing and skin. Hugs, handshakes and close contact sports promote their spread.

Wearing or sharing clothing, hats, helmets, coats or uniforms from an infested person also allows body lice to walk onto a new host. Since these lice live primarily on fabrics, swapping clothing is an easy way for them to transfer hosts.

Signs of Body Louse Infestation

Many people have no symptoms of body lice at first. A mild infestation may not even be noticed right away. However, as more lice feed and bite over time, they can cause uncomfortable symptoms.

Itchy Skin

Body lice use sharp mouthparts to pierce the skin for blood meals. This causes red, itchy bumps similar to mosquito bites The saliva they inject can trigger allergic itching in some people. The bites tend to be clustered around tighter clothing bands and seams.

Visible Bites or Rash

With heavier infestations over weeks or months, rashes can develop from repeated feedings. The bumps may become crusty, scabbed or infected due to bacteria from scratching.

Tiny blue, grayish or dark red spots may also appear on the skin or underwear from louse feces. Seeing the insects, eggs or droppings provides confirmation of infestation.

Difficulty Sleeping

Itchy rashes and biting can prevent good sleep at night, leaving victims tired and restless. Knowing the bed is infested with body lice only increases anxiety levels.

Complications of Body Lice

While body lice themselves cause irritation, their bites open the skin for dangerous secondary infections to develop.

Bacterial Infections

Scratching brings bacteria from underneath fingernails into bite lesions. Redness, swelling, oozing fluids or pus point to local infections. Rarely, serious skin or blood infections require antibiotics if left untreated.

Relapsing Fever

Body lice can transmit relapsing fever between people through their bites. This bacterial infection triggers recurring high fevers, chills, muscle pains and nausea. Antibiotics clear the bacteria from the bloodstream.

Trench Fever

Another disease spread through body louse bites is trench fever. This infection earned its name in WW1 trenches but is rare today. It causes fever, bone pain, headache, and weakness lasting 4 to 6 weeks if not treated early with antibiotics.

Getting Rid of Body Lice

Detecting and eliminating body lice quickly reduces complications. Successful treatment focuses both on killing the lice on the body and washing items they may have crawled off onto.

Body Lice Medication

Prescription topical creams containing permethrin, benzyl alcohol, ivermectin or other insecticides will kill body lice and nits on the skin. Over-the-counter products like Nix or RID are NOT effective against body lice.

Wash all Clothes, Bedding and Fabrics

These items should be machine washed in very hot 130°F (54°C) water then dried on the highest heat cycle to destroy any eggs or stray lice. Items that cannot be washed can be dry cleaned or simply bagged up for 2 full weeks.

Vacuum Upholstered Surfaces

Carpets, sofas, chairs, pillows, beds etc should be thoroughly vacuumed to remove eggs shells and louse feces. Using heat or steam treatment additionally kills any stray body lice.

Preventing Body Lice Infestations

Once an outbreak clears, avoiding situations that promote lice transmission reduces future risk. This includes:

• Avoid direct contact with infested people, their clothing or bedding
• Practice good hygiene - bathe regularly and wash clothing/bedding often in hot water
• Avoid sharing clothing, bedding, combs, brushes etc
• Isolate exposed laundry inside bags until washed
• Stay away from crowded living situations if possible

While lice are mainly transferred by poor hygiene and close contact, even the cleanest people can sometimes pick them up. Seeking treatment quickly helps clear up an infestation before major complications arise.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.