Patient's question:
Description of the condition: Occasional itching in the area around the penis where pubic hair grows, with parasites attached to the skin, close to the pubic hair, needle-sized, with antennae, soft-bodied. The itching has lasted for about a week, and about 10 were killed tonight. Others have not been found yet, but there may still be some remaining.History of treatment and effectiveness: No treatment has been administered.
Help needed: I want to know what kind of parasite this is, its risks, and what measures should be taken.
Doctor's answer:
Pubic lice and scabies caused by sexually transmitted diseases are different from contagious molluscum contagiosum. They are rarely spread through non-sexual contact. The vast majority are transmitted through dirty sexual contact, but they can also be indirectly spread through daily items such as underwear, mattresses, and toilet seats. The skin damage caused by pubic lice is mainly due to the irritation from their mouthparts during blood-sucking and the chemical irritation from their saliva, leading to dermatitis reactions and itching in the pubic hair area. When pubic lice bite the skin and suck blood, their toxic saliva enters the bloodstream, which can cause hemoglobin to change in the human body, resulting in purplish-blue patches at the bite site. Scratching the skin can also lead to conditions such as folliculitis and secondary skin infections. Additionally, pubic lice can occasionally spread diseases such as typhus and relapsing fever.