Life Cycle of Body Lice
Body lice are tiny insects that live on the body and/or on clothing and bedding. Human blood is their food supply. Body lice are bigger than head lice and are found on various body areas, unlike head lice who reside on a person's head. Body lice spend a majority of time on a person's clothing and visit the body to feed up to five times in one day. Body lice have three stages of life.
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The Egg
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The egg is the first stage in the life cycle of body lice. The eggs are no larger than one millimeter long. They are oval in shape and are a yellow to white color.
The Nymph
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The nymph is the second stage in the life cycle of body lice. This is the immature stage. It appears similar to the adult louse and human blood is it's food supply. However, the nymph is smaller than the adult louse.
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The Adult
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The adult is the third stage in the life cycle of body lice. The adult can be three different colors; reddish, grayish-white, or a cream color. It has six legs and has a length of two to four millimeters.
Signs/Symptoms
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Extreme itching accompanied with a red rash is the most common sign of body lice. Small red dots indicate the bites of body lice. If body lice are present for an extended period of time, the skin can become thick and discolored.
Treatment
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Wash infected clothing and/or bedding in hot water at a temperature of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. After washing them, put clothing and bedding in the dryer on a hot temperature. The infected person should also take a shower. Using a shampoo containing permethrin is an option to consider, depending on the severity of infestation.
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