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- Crabs (also known as pubic lice) are small parasites that feed on human blood. Crabs are not the same as head and body lice.
- Crabs are usually found on the pubic hair, but can be also be found on other parts of the body where a person has coarse hair (such as armpits, eyelashes, and facial hair). Crabs rarely infest head hair.
- Anyone can get crabs. Having crabs does not mean a person in unclean or dirty.
- A person can get crabs during sexual contact with a person who has crabs. During the close physical contact, the crabs can move from the pubic hair of one person to the pubic hair of another. Crabs can be sexually transmitted even if there is no penetration or exchange of body fluids.
- Once off a human host, crabs can live for 24 hours, making it possible to get crabs during contact with infested bedding or clothing.
- Animals do not get crabs.
- The most noticeable symptom of crabs is itching. The itching usually starts about 5 days after a person gets crabs.
- There are several treatments for crabs. Some treatments require a prescription, while others do not. A person does not have to shave off his or her pubic hair to get rid of crabs.
- The only way to prevent infestation with crabs is avoid contact with infested people, bed linens, clothing, and furniture.
- Latex condoms, while not considered to be effective against crabs transmission, can prevent the transmission of other STDs.
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