What are the signs and symptoms of body lice infestation?
The most common signs of body lice infestation are intense itching and a red rash located on the trunk. The bites from body lice are initially seen as small red dots that develop into wheal like areas of inflammation (light red elevation of the skin with a white center). Long-term body lice infestations may lead to thickening and discoloration of the skin, particularly around the waist, groin, and upper thighs. Secondary skin infections can result from scratching. Can body lice transmit disease? Yes, epidemics of trench fever (Bartonella quintana), typhus (Rickettsia prowazekii), and louse-borne relapsing fever (Borrelia recurrentis) have been caused by the human body louse. Epidemic typhus and louse-borne relapsing fever do not occur in the United States. Infections with Bartonella quintana, including trench fever, are occasionally diagnosed in the United States. Homeless individuals with chronic alcoholism and body lice infestation have been found to be at higher risk for Bartonella
