Body lice may transmit a number of infectious diseases. Head and pubic lice do not carry infectious agents.
Infections Transmitted By Lice
Comments
epidemic (louse-borne) relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis)
body louse
epidemic typhus (Rickettsia prowazekii)
murine typhus ((Rickettsia mooseri)
trench fever (Rochalimaea quintana)
Cellulitis and other cutaneous infections due to Staphylococcus aureus or other organisms may occur because of the bites and subsequent scratching.
Pubic lice are transmitted by sexual activity, so an affected person should be screened for other sexually transmitted diseases.
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases
