What do linen lice bites look like, methods of treatment and prevention?

If redness and an itchy rash are detected on the skin, it is necessary to exclude linen lice bites. Small blood-sucking parasites are easily carried on clothing and are well camouflaged in underwear and bedding. The problem can be encountered after visiting a hotel, a hospital ward, or a holiday in a children's camp. Therefore, it is recommended to know the symptoms and treatment features, and remember the rules of prevention at home.

Causes of insects

Linen or body lice are one of the most common subspecies, which are collectively called Pediculus humanus corporis. These are the closest “relatives” of pubic and head parasites that live among human hair. They cannot be constantly on the skin, preferring to settle in colonies on clothing. Favorite places are tight seams, folds and borders. Most often, the parasite is detected on natural fabrics with a high content of wool or linen thread.

The body louse, like the head species, is miniature in size, reaching no more than 3 mm in length. The long and translucent body is difficult to discern among the hair or particles of the epidermis. They do not have wings, but develop a unique jumping ability, which allows them to quickly migrate to new areas. You may encounter them in the following situations:

In close contact with an infected person (intimate contact, hugs).
When using someone else's clothes, dressing gown, T-shirt.
In cramped transport, at work in a team.
When placing an infected item on a common hanger or closet.
In the pool, public sauna, during procedures in the hospital.

Fans of hotel holidays are familiar with bed lice, whose bites ruin their holiday. They should not be confused with bedbugs: insects differ not only in size, but also in the method of destruction, processing of skin and surrounding objects.

Important! Lice easily tolerate the absence of food for several days and remain viable when transporting packaged items. Therefore, it is not always possible to establish the source of infection or associate it with a trip or personal meeting.

What is a body louse

This type of lice is a close relative of head parasites, but differs only in that it can remain outside the victim’s body for a long time and calmly continue its life activity on clothes, sheets and blankets. These subspecies of blood-sucking insects mix with each other.

Linen lice

Interesting!
The fossilized lice and nits found date back approximately 10 million years. The linen louse became an independent subspecies much later. This happened about 100,000 years ago. The reason for this split among relatives was the fact of the appearance of the first clothes. These insects were so widespread in the world that to this day in all languages there are curses associated with the mention of these parasites.

How to recognize linen lice bites

Even clean people who monitor their health and the condition of their personal belongings face this problem. After a vacation or a trip to visit relatives, they discover rashes on the skin that are itchy and cause them to itch constantly. This is often associated with allergies to detergents, climate change or new foods. Those who do not know what linen lice bites look like should take a closer look at the following signs:

Areas without strong hair are affected (lower back and buttocks, neck, upper back, abdomen).
The itching intensifies upon contact with clothing.
After scratching, lumps and sores remain.
Insects actively crawl on the skin, so linen lice bites on a person are located in the form of a line or path.

Unlike an allergic reaction, red spots do not disappear after taking antihistamines. When examined under a magnifying glass, it is easy to distinguish the site of a linen louse bite, which resembles a point on the skin.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Lice and the consequences of infection with them give rise to many myths and questions that are not always easy to answer. Below are answers to the most common questions.

Expert opinion

Alexandra Valerievna

Doctor-Trichologist

The most common question people ask is: Do nits bite?

The answer is negative, since a nit is a larva located in a dense window. They cannot leave the cocoon and live solely on the nutrients already available until they hatch. Also, nits are not capable of moving on their own and are usually attached with a special solution to hair or tissue, where they will mature for several days before hatching.

What do pubic lice bite marks look like in men?

Bites in men are not much different from those in women. Another thing is that they are more difficult to notice, since men shave their pubic hair much less often, and the hair in their groin area is much denser. These factors prevent the detection of bite marks even at a severe stage of infection.

Is it possible to get lice on public transport?

Yes, it's unlikely, but still possible. Transmission of lice, especially head lice, most often occurs in public places where there are large crowds of people. Other potential risk areas are dormitories, kindergartens, schools and other places where close contact between people is expected in one way or another.

Are there any precautions?

Do not wear someone else's clothes, even if you know the person well. Do not use other people's bed linen. The exception is, perhaps, freshly washed and initially separately packaged bedding items on Russian Railways trains. Limit the number of sexual contacts on the side, since there is no guarantee that your partner does not have lice or sexually transmitted diseases.

What can be the consequences of bites?

In addition to the already mentioned discomfort, the possible development of allergies and diseases, there is only one side effect. With prolonged infection, scars may appear at the site of the bites, since the skin has been damaged for a long time. In most cases, scars are invisible, as they are either under clothing or hidden by hair. But the elasticity of the skin in these places will be impaired, as well as its heat exchange.

Should we panic?

In any case, there is no need to panic. Take sick leave so as not to spread the infection further, and then begin treatment. If you feel unwell, consult a doctor to avoid a possible allergic reaction and diseases carried by lice. Basically, this parasite is harmless and easily expelled.

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Consequences of contact with parasites

Many people don't even realize that body lice bites pose a health hazard. They can bite a person infected with a serious disease and transmit it further. In addition, the insect injects a special substance under the epidermis that anesthetizes and contains antibodies foreign to the human body.

If linen lice bite, the consequences may be:

Infection in the wound after scratching, suppuration and the appearance of non-healing erosions.
Insomnia and the development of neurosis with prolonged contact with parasites.
Characteristic marks that cause embarrassment, forcing one to refuse communication with the opposite sex.
An allergic reaction that intensifies and threatens with swelling, weakness, and drowsiness.

If lice bites on the skin do not heal for a long time, scarring begins, leaving unflattering scars with a bluish rim.

Where can you get lice?

In an age of constant population migration, it is easy to become a victim of laundry parasites. Therefore, you need to know where these bloodsuckers can bite a person:

they usually live in bedding and pass through it to a new owner;
reach the victim through the clothes of another person;
often public places with large crowds of people are a risk zone where infestation with linen lice can occur.

Such objects are:

clothing stores - fitting rooms;
campsites, hotels, motels, hostels;
all places of public recreation: children's, sports and tourist camps, sanatoriums and recreation centers;
public and private transport;
overnight stay in one tent during hiking trips;
at a party or in places where there is contact with other people's bed linen, clothing or towels.

How to treat linen lice bites and consequences

At the first suspicion of contact with parasites, you should consult a dermatologist. He will help make sure there is no infection or allergy and will select the medications necessary for treatment. The doctor will explain how bed lice bite so the patient can determine the cause of their rash. At home, the affected areas can be treated:

Any ointment containing the hormone hydrocortisone. It will reduce the risk of swelling and allergic reactions, and reduce discomfort.
Hydrogen peroxide applied to a cotton swab as an antiseptic.
Homeopathic remedies containing tea tree oil, eucalyptus, calendula.
Fenistil gel, which relieves acute itching.

If purulent rashes appear and infection is suspected, the doctor may recommend a course of antibiotics: Doxycycline, Cefuroxime, Lincomycin. The specialist selects how to lubricate the bites from linen lice: 2-3 times a day, wipe the rashes with antiseptic solutions based on Chlorhexidine or Miramistin, rub in Levomekolev ointment. Antihistamines that act for 12–24 hours help relieve itching at night: Zodak, Suprastin, Telfast.

An anti-linen lice spray will help stop the infestation of parasites. These are universal products that affect all types of insects that attack the body and hair:

Para Plus,
Lavinal,
Pediculen,
Paranit.

Alcohol tinctures of propolis, calendula or St. John's wort disinfect the epidermis well. Patients are advised to wash with baby or laundry soap and temporarily avoid gels with fragrances. Every evening you can take baths with the addition of sea salt. A decoction of chamomile, sage, celandine and oak bark, which is added when bathing, relieves burning and itching.

Folk remedies

Let's take a closer look at the most effective traditional medicine recipes that allow you to cope with linen parasites.

Dust soap

An all-time favorite in the fight against linen lice. Grate a bar of soap on a coarse grater, dissolve and beat thoroughly in water. Immerse things there for half an hour, wash and rinse thoroughly. Lice die after the first wash.

Attention! Dust soap is highly toxic, so processing is carried out exclusively with rubber gloves.

Tar soap

Use in the same way as dust soap. Tar soap does not pose a danger to humans, but it also does not give as high an effect as the processing method described above.

Ways to get rid of lice

Treatment will help relieve acute symptoms, but the problem will disappear only after the destruction of dangerous insects. There are many effective ways to get rid of lice at minimal cost:

All bedding should be washed with hot water and laundry soap and thoroughly ironed on each side.
Clothes from the closet are hung out in the sun for several days. In winter, you can use a steam cleaner.
Bulky items and blankets are taken to the dry cleaner for professional treatment with detergents.
Personal household items and combs can be wiped with Chlorhexidine.
The apartment undergoes general cleaning with disinfection of all surfaces, door handles, and steam treatment of the mattress. It is better to order it from specialists of a cleaning company.

Within a week, after taking a shower, the towel is changed to a clean one and soaked in boiling water. When washing floors in your home, you can add Karbofos solution to the water. It destroys lice at any stage of development. If the recommendations are followed, arthropods die within 5–7 days.

Head lice prognosis

The use of effective anti-lice drugs and their proper use leads to a complete cure of lice.
Relapses of the disease are associated with an incomplete course of treatment and re-infection. RELATED LINKS

Signs of meningitis in adults
What is pyoderma
Linen lice
human louse
All about diseases of the scalp (photo)
Remedy for lice and nits for children
How to get rid of lice and nits
Causes, prevention and measures to combat pediculosis

Articles in the section “Pediculosis (lice)”

Signs and symptoms of lice in adults and children

Prevention

Preventing body lice bites helps prevent head lice and complications. After going on vacation or a business trip, all things and underwear should be washed in hot water. When regularly visiting high-risk areas, the hair and skin on the body are lubricated with special solutions: Nittifor, Pedilin, Nyuda. To protect clothes, you can put a cotton pad soaked in lavender oil and hellebore water in a suitcase or closet.

When traveling regularly, it is recommended to take a set of bed linen with you, wash your hands more often and take a hot shower. Women should carefully choose a cosmetologist and hairdressing salon, pay attention to the disinfection of equipment, and the availability of a health certificate from the master.

Do nits bite?

This question can be classified as: does a chicken egg eat grain? However, some firmly believe that lice eggs are the cause of red spots covering the skin. Believe me, this is an unfounded misconception.

A nit is a louse embryo with an undeveloped proboscis, enclosed in a durable, streamlined chain mail shell. Attached to the hair with the help of a special secretion, the nit is opened only when the time of maturation of the larva comes to an end. But in this case, it is no longer an empty shell that bites, but a completely independent louse.