Parasitic Infections

Crabs / Pubic Lice

Pubic lice are microscopic bugs that attach themselves to the base of pubic hairs and plunge their heads into the skin so they can live off human blood.  They also lay their egg sacs at the base of the public hair.  They differ from regular lice by the crab-like arms and bodies.  A substance they secrete into the skin causes intense itching and the bites can result in patches of skin turning bluish-grey in colour.  Crabs move from body to body by close contact.  They can also live for a day or two in the clothing, bedding and towels belonging to an infected person.  In order to get rid of a crab infestation, purchase a non-prescription shampoo from a drugstore or clinic designed to kill the bugs usually with just one washing.  You must also thoroughly wash or vacuum any surfaces that may have been infected by crabs.

Scabies

Parasitic mites called scabies are passed from person to person just like pubic lice, either by direct contact or from an infected person’s clothing, bedding, towels or other personal items on which scabies can live for up to three days.  Once on the skin, scabies look for warm areas including between the fingers, under the nails, in folds of skin on the elbows, wrists, buttocks, knees, shoulder blades, waist, breasts and penis.  Then, they burrow into the skin to lay eggs under the surface.  The larvae hatch and continue on to other parts of the body, which spreads the infection.  Once scabies is diagnosed, a lotion is prescribed to be used on the entire body, while all personal items must be thoroughly cleansed.

Trichomoniasis (Trich)

Microscopic parasites called Trichomonas vaginalis can infect the vagina, urethra, bladder or cervix of women and the urethra of men, as well as under the foreskin of uncircumcised men, potentially causing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in women.  In rare cases when symptoms do exist, they include discharge, irritation or redness on the tip of the penis and painful urination for men, and vaginal discharge, odour, itchiness or irritation, and painful intercourse or urination for women.  It is spread through unprotected sex and treated with antibiotics.

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safe sex

In Part 2, we’ll go through viral and fungal sexually transmitted infections such as herpes, HIV, HPV, Hepatitis B and yeast infections.

Source:
sexualityandu.ca