Nits are most often found in the seams of an infested person’s clothing, such as under the armpits or around the waist. Body lice nits may take one to two weeks to hatch into nymphs, which feed off of human blood. After another 9 to 12 days, give or take, the nymph matures to an adult louse. An adult has six legs, complete with claws; is a tan or greyish-white color; and requires blood to survive. Because body lice are typically larger than head lice (which are roughly 2 to 3 millimeters long) they’re generally easier to see. (3) At times, itching the bites can cause sores, which can become infected with bacteria or fungi, causing secondary infections. For those who have been struggling with a body lice infestation for an extended period of time, the waist to upper thigh area may become thickened and discolored blue-gray due to the bites. This condition is called vagabond’s disease. While body lice eggs and lice are usually found in the seams of clothing or on the bedding used by the infested person, occasionally body lice can be spotted on the body while feeding. And although body lice nits can sometimes attach to body hair, lice found on the head and scalp are usually head lice. (2) While louse-borne typhus isn’t a common issue, outbreaks do still happen where chronic poverty, social customs, natural or man-made disasters, or war prevent regular laundering and changing of clothes. (2)
Treat skin irritations at the physician’s office.Wash or replace clothes and linens. Because body lice may live in clothing, bedding, and towels for up to 10 days without a blood meal, those who are infested must replace or decontaminate their clothes, towels, and bed linens by thoroughly washing and drying the items at high temperatures. (7) The wash should be set at least 130 degrees F, with the dryer at 149 degrees F, minimum. (4,8) The temperature is critical, as soap and water alone will not kill body lice. (9)Dry-clean or seal up the rest. Clothing and other items that aren’t machine washable can be either dry-cleaned or placed inside a tightly sealed plastic bag for two weeks. (10)Use an iron, too. Mattresses and upholstered furniture should either be hot ironed or sprayed with lice-killing products to eliminate body lice eggs from the seams. (Avoid exposure to these infested items for two weeks.) (11)Consider insecticides. In some cases where there is a risk for epidemic typhus, chemical insecticides may also be used. (10)Improve hygiene. An individual with body lice must be able to regularly change into clean clothes and improve their personal hygiene by bathing at least once a week. Body lice infestations are extremely unlikely to persist on any individual who bathes regularly and who has at least weekly access to freshly laundered clothing and bedding. (8)Use permethrin cream. In extreme infestations, head-to-toe application of a 5 percent permethrin cream is recommended for 8 to 14 hours.
