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Subject Area

Endemic and Tropical Medicine

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives To determine the prevalence of pediculosis among school children and possible risk factors. Background Pediculosis capitis is an obligate ectoparasite that only affects the human scalp. Pediculosis (i.e., louse infestation) dates back to prehistory. The oldest known fossils of louse eggs (i.e., nits) are ~10 000 years old. Patients and methods This was an analytic cross-section study. The calculated sample size was 355 participants from the children attending the health unit with their families during the period from December 2013 to June 2014 in Millij Village. All students were evaluated through history taking and completing medical examination followed by laboratory investigations, including hemoglobin %, urine, and stool analyses. A full head examination was conducted by using a hand lens. A child was considered infested if alive or dead lice or eggs were found. Children were classified into two groups: group I Shad pediculosis and group II did not have pediculosis. Statistical presentation and analysis of the present study was conducted by using the mean, SD, and Student test for weight and height, as well as number, percentage, and χ2 test by SPSS, version 8. Results The prevalence rate of pediculosis among the studied children was 35.8%. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) between group I and group II regarding sociodemographic data, except for age, which exhibited a nonsignificant difference (P > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between group I and group II regarding risk factors such as long hair, poor hygiene, and use of shared combs/brushes. There were nonsignificant differences (P > 0.05) between group I and group II regarding clinical examination, except for pallor or anemia, which exhibited a significant difference (P < 0.05). Conclusion Pediculosis affected more than one-third of the studied school children. Prevalence of pediculosis was very high in grade 4, which was 54.7%. Moreover, the percent of anemia was 57.9%.

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