Pubic lice (crabs)

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Pubic lice infestations can usually be treated with few problems. However, a pubic lice infestation sometimes leads to complications such as:

  • Inflammatory skin reactions. Pubic lice bites may cause an inflammatory skin reaction that results in small, flat gray-blue colored bumps called maculae ceruleae. These may appear as a result of altered blood pigment.
  • Secondary infections. When pubic lice scratch and dig to feed on your blood, they may irritate your skin. If you scratch to alleviate itching, this can also irritate your skin. If your skin becomes raw from these irritations, other infections may develop.

DS01072

June 27, 2008

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