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Read answers from our experts: Living Well | Diet & Fitness | Mental Health | Conditions
updated June 26, 2010

Body lice

Filed under: Infectious Diseases
Body lice are tiny insects, about the size of a sesame seed. Body lice live in your clothing and travel to your skin several times a day to feed on blood. The most common sites for bites are around the waist, groin and armpits — places where clothing seams are most likely to touch skin.

Body lice are most common in crowded and unhygienic living conditions, such as refugee camps and shelters for the homeless. Body lice bites can spread certain types of diseases and can even cause epidemics.

Clothing and bedding that have been infested with body lice should be laundered in hot soapy water and machine dried using the hot cycle.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Body lice bites can cause intense itching.

See your doctor if improved hygiene doesn't eliminate the infestation, or if you have developed a skin infection from scratching the bites.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Body lice are similar to head lice, but have different habits. While head lice live in your hair and feed on your scalp, body lice typically live in your clothes and bedding. They travel to your skin several times a day to feed on blood.

The seams of your clothing are the most common places for body lice to lay their eggs (nits). You can become infested with body lice if you come into close contact with a person who has body lice, or with clothing or bedding that is infested with body lice.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

People who are at higher risk of body lice include:

  • War refugees
  • Homeless people
  • Victims of natural disasters

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Body lice infestations usually cause minimal problems. However, a body lice infestation sometimes leads to complications such as:

  • Secondary infections. When body lice scratch and dig to feed on your blood, they may irritate your skin. If you scratch to alleviate itching, this also can irritate your skin. If your skin becomes raw from these irritations, other infections may develop.
  • Skin changes. If you're infested with body lice for a long time, you may experience skin changes such as thickening and discoloration — particularly around your waist, groin or upper thighs.
  • Spread of disease. Although this rarely occurs, body lice can carry and spread some bacterial diseases, such as typhus, relapsing fever or trench fever.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

If you can't get rid of body lice on your own, you may need to talk to your family doctor.

What you can do
Before the appointment, you may want to write a list that answers the following questions:

  • How long do you think you've had body lice?
  • What types of symptoms are you experiencing?
  • How were you infested with body lice?
  • Have you spread the infestation to others?
  • What treatments have you already tried?
  • Do you have any chronic health problems?
  • What types of medications or supplements do you take?

What to expect from your doctor
During the physical exam, your doctor will examine your skin and the seams of your clothes.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

You or your doctor can usually confirm a body lice infestation through a visual examination of your body and clothing items. The presence of eggs and moving lice confirms infestation.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Body lice are primarily treated by thoroughly washing yourself and any contaminated items with soap and hot water.

If these measures don't work, you can try using an over-the-counter lotion or shampoo — such as Nix or Rid. If that still doesn't work, your doctor can provide a prescription lotion. Lice-killing products can be toxic to humans, so follow the directions carefully.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

You can usually get rid of body lice by cleaning yourself and any personal belongings that may be contaminated. Wash infested bedding, clothing and towels with hot, soapy water — at least 130 F (54 C) — and dry them at high heat for at least 20 minutes.

Items that can't be washed may be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

To prevent body lice infestation, avoid having close physical contact or sharing bedding or clothing with anyone who has an infestation.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

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