Body lice are parasitic insects about the size of a sesame seed and look exactly as head lice. They feed on blood and leaves of bite marks on the infested person while hiding to the person’s clothing or body. Body lice are rampant to crowded and unhygienic places such as refugee camps and shelter for homeless.
Bites marks may often see on the neck, shoulders, armpits, waist and groin. Infestations of these parasites typically cause minimal problems. However, there are cases that body lice leads to complications like:
- Secondary infections – Skin can be irritated due to scratching. This would make an opening for infections to develop.
- Skin Changes – There can be skin discoloration or thickening on areas where body lice usually bites.
- Contagious Disease – Body lice can carry and spread bacterial diseases such as typhus.
