title: Phthirus pubis in a sexually transmitted diseases unit: a study of 14 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There have been few epidemiologic studies of pubic lice in recent times, and the exact incidence is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal was to determine the trends of pubic lice infestation in a risk group of males and female prostitutes in an STD unit in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective 14-year study, from 1988 to 2001, of all patients attending the STD unit in Gijón (Asturias, Spain), investigating crab lice and other STDs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred ninety-seven patients (2.2%) had pubic lice, with a male/female proportion of 1.8/1. The yearly infestation rate ranged from 1.3% to 4.6%. The mean age was 30.3 years, and 18.8% of patients were older than 35 years. There were more cases involving men who had sex with men (MSM) (P < 0.001) than those involving heterosexual men. Reinfestation occurred in 7.6% of patients, more often in males (P < 0.05) and mainly in MSM (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infestation rates were stable during the period of study, with more older patients involved than reported previously, and infestation frequently was associated with STDs. MSM were infested and reinfested more often than heterosexual men, and in general reinfestations occurred more frequently in males than in females.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología y ETS, Gota de Leche, Gijón, Spain.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Junquera
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vázquez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010373:Lice Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020061:Phthirus; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology