Body Lice

- Not as common as head and pubic lice any longer -

What are body lice?

Body lice are small (1-3 mm; 1/16"-1/8") blood-sucking insects that closely resemble head lice, to which they are related (see head lice article below for a photograph of an adult louse). Body lice, unlike head lice however, live in clothing and lay their eggs (nits) on cloth fibers (right). Body lice move from clothing to the skin surface to feed. Because body lice eggs are attached to clothing, these lice are generally not a concern where clothes are routinely washed.

Severe outbreaks of body lice, and louse-borne diseases, have occured during wars, in prisons and on crowded ships, and similar crowded and unsanitary situations but are less common today.

Body louse eggs, or nits, on clothing (highly magnified, individual cloth fibers are visible). The nit on the left is older as indicated by its darker cap (left end of nit).

Body lice eggs, or nits, in clothing

Eggs, or nits, of all human lice (head lice, body lice and pubic lice) are about 1 mm long. Nits of body lice are laid in clothing, attached to cloth fibers (above), whereas head and pubic lice attach their eggs to hairs.

Nits need body heat in order to hatch which generally takes seven to ten days. If infested clothes are not worn, body lice eggs won't hatch and may die. Lice molt through several immature stages before becoming adults.

How to treat body lice

Body lice can be effectively controlled with regular washing of clothes in hot water and detergent. There is no need for insecticides. During conditions of war or natural disaster, however, "delousing" with insecticide has been used to curb outbreaks of typhus and other diseases.

Typhus spread by body lice

Body lice bite to get blood and the bite leaves a red, itchy lesion. Body lice infestations have been associated with a form of typhus called epidemic, or louse-borne, typhus caused by the bacterium Rickettsia prowazeki. Disease-causing bacteria are found in louse droppings which can be scratched into the skin causing infection. Symptoms of epidemic typhus include severe headache, a high fever, cough, rash, muscle pain, chills, falling blood pressure, stupor, sensitivity to light, and delirium. Chronic body lice infestations, alone, can lead to malaise and generally "feeling lousy".

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Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.

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