Pubic lice occurs when adult lice lay eggs, called nits, on the hair shaft close to the skin. The egg, which is white and shiny, requires 7 to 10 days to hatch. A typical infestation is by less than a dozen lice. It is possible to be infested with pubic lice and have no symptoms. More commonly itching occurs, which worsens at night.
Pubic lice are difficult to see because of their location and appearance.
Grayish-white lice blend in with white skin and brown lice can be mistaken for moles or can be hard to see on black skin. A rash or faint bluish spots might be noted at the site of bites. If lice infest the eyebrows or eyelashes, the eyes may become inflamed. Pubic lice are usually transmitted through direct physical contact, especially of the genital areas. Occasionally transmission can occur through contact with an infested person's sheets, towels, or clothes, as they can survive without a human host for one to two days.