Crabs (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
Medication
Definitive treatment comes from the following drugs:
- Permethrin (Elimite) is a lice-killing product that is available over-the-counter without a prescription. When using this product it is important to exactly follow the instructions on the package.
- Avoid mucous membranes, which are found at the tip of the penis and the opening of the vagina.
- Repeat anti-lice treatment in seven to 10 days to kill nits that may have hatched.
- Avoid mucous membranes, which are found at the tip of the penis and the opening of the vagina.
- Lindane (Kwell): An alternative treatment when
permethrin (Elimite) is not available.
Lindane requires a doctor's prescription.
- Apply for 10 minutes then rinse with warm water.
- Lindane should not be used on children. Lindane can be toxic to the brain and nervous system and should only be used when other treatments have failed.
- Apply for 10 minutes then rinse with warm water.
- Malathion lotion (Ovide) and
ivermectin (Stromectol) are other prescription medications that have been shown to be effective against pubic lice or crabs.
- Use over-the-counter antihistamines such as
diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for itching.
Next: Next Steps »
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Pediculosis »
Pediculosis (ie, louse infestation) dates back to prehistory. The oldest known fossils of louse eggs (ie, nits) are approximately 10,000 years old.
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