Is this your symptom?
- Itching caused by tiny gray bugs (lice) in the pubic and genital area
- Often worse at night
Symptoms of Pubic Lice
- Itching of the pubic area is the main symptom.
- A rash may be present.
- The nits (eggs) are easier to see than the lice. Nits are tiny white specks attached to hairs close to the skin. Unlike dandruff or sand, nits can't be shaken off the hair shafts.
Cause
- A parasite, also known as the pubic louse or "crab louse"
- The lice most often infest the genital and anal areas, though other hairy parts of the body may also be involved. But, the scalp is rarely involved by the pubic louse.
- Pubic lice are 1⁄16-inch (2 mm) long, gray-colored bugs. They move quickly and are hard to see.
- They are the size of a sesame seed.
- The lice feed on blood from the skin. While the bug is sucking blood, some of its secretions get mixed in. Any rash, bumps or hives are the body's reaction to the bug's saliva.
When to Call for Pubic Lice
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Pubic area looks infected (pus, soft scabs, or draining sores)
- Hives in your pubic or genital area
- You are pregnant and have pubic lice. Talk with your doctor before treatment.
- You think you need to be seen
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- Not sure you have pubic lice
- New lice are seen within 7 days after treatment
- Rash or itch lasts more than 7 days after treatment
- Pubic lice
- You have other questions or concerns
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
