BACKGROUND: Head lice infestation caused by Pediculus humanus var capitis (Pediculus capitis) is a worldwide public health concern that affects mostly school aged children. This descriptive, analytical study was carried out in 2008 to determine the prevalence of pediculosis capitis and some risk factors among primary-school pupils in Bahar, Hamadan Province, Iran. METHODS: We selected 900 pupils (50% girls and 50% boys) from 18 primary schools by multistage, systematic random sampling. Their hair was examined for head louse infestation. The results and demographic information recorded in the questionnaire and then were analyzed by SPSS software. RESULTS: Twelve students (1.3%) were infected with lice, 10 (2.2%) girls and 2 (0.44%) boys. The rate of infection was 0.66% in urban and 1.66% in rural areas. The results showed significant variations in head lice infestation, and factors such as sex, level of parent education and habitat (P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of pediculosis was less than average percentages observed in other students inside and outside Iran. We recommend that the parents and teachers should receive training about the danger of infection and its distribution in family and school in order to prevent it.
BACKGROUND:Head lice infestation caused by Pediculus humanus var capitis (Pediculus capitis) is a worldwide public health concern that affects mostly school aged children. This descriptive, analytical study was carried out in 2008 to determine the prevalence of pediculosis capitis and some risk factors among primary-school pupils in Bahar, Hamadan Province, Iran. METHODS: We selected 900 pupils (50% girls and 50% boys) from 18 primary schools by multistage, systematic random sampling. Their hair was examined for head louse infestation. The results and demographic information recorded in the questionnaire and then were analyzed by SPSS software. RESULTS: Twelve students (1.3%) were infected with lice, 10 (2.2%) girls and 2 (0.44%) boys. The rate of infection was 0.66% in urban and 1.66% in rural areas. The results showed significant variations in head lice infestation, and factors such as sex, level of parent education and habitat (P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of pediculosis was less than average percentages observed in other students inside and outside Iran. We recommend that the parents and teachers should receive training about the danger of infection and its distribution in family and school in order to prevent it.
Authors: Reza Dehghanzadeh; Mohammad Asghari-Jafarabadi; Shahin Salimian; Ahmad Asl Hashemi; Simin Khayatzadeh Journal: Parasitol Res Date: 2015-08-16 Impact factor: 2.289
Authors: Mohammad Ali Davarpanah; Akbar Rasekhi Kazerouni; Hashem Rahmati; Roxana Neirami Neirami; Hamid Bakhtiary; Mohammad Sadeghi Journal: Caspian J Intern Med Date: 2013
Authors: Mahmood Moosazadeh; Mahdi Afshari; Hormoz Keianian; Asghar Nezammahalleh; Ahmad Ali Enayati Journal: Osong Public Health Res Perspect Date: 2015-11-09