Health Topics A-Z

What Are the Symptoms of Lice?

• Head lice: intense itching on the scalp, especially behind the ears and at the nape of the neck.
• Body lice: unexplained scratch marks on the body, hives, eczema, and red pimples on the shoulders or torso.
• Pubic lice: continual itching around the pubic area, and perhaps a rash.

What Are the Symptoms of Scabies?

• Intensely itchy rash with red patches generally located between the fingers, around the wrists, and on the elbows, navel, nipples, lower abdomen, and genitals. The face and scalp are rarely affected.
• Lesions as thin as pencil lead that mark where the scabies mites have burrowed into the skin — visible in only about 25% of cases.
• Itching that is most severe at night.
• Scabs that tend to form over scratched areas.

Since the distinguishing burrow lines show in only about 25% of patients, you may have to rely on other signals to determine whether you have been infested. If you find yourself overcome with an overwhelming need to scratch particular areas of your body, especially at night, check with your doctor. People with flaking skin disorders, such as eczema and psoriasis, need to be especially vigilant. Because they already tend to have itchy, red skin, they may not notice symptoms until the infestation is widespread.