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Prevalence of Pediculus capitis Infestation among Primary School Students in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran (2018 – 2019)

Authors :
Haniyeh Meshkati
Abolghasem Siyadatpanah
Sajjad Jafari
Fahimeh Bagheri Amiri
Roghayeh Norouzi
Source :
Medical Laboratory Journal, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 13-18 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
CMV Verlag, 2021.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Head louse, also known as Pediculus humanus capitis, is an obligate ectoparasite that is a distributed all around the world. The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of head lice infestation in primary school students in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Methods: Overall, 3,032 students (1,515 boys and 1,517 girls) from 33 primary schools in Tabriz were selected via multi-stage cluster sampling in 2018. The students were examined individually and privately by experts. Head lice infestation was confirmed by detecting adult or nymph or nits less than 1 cm from base of hair. Data analysis was carried out in SPSS software package (version 23). Association of participants’ characteristics with pediculosis infestation was evaluated using logistic regression and chi-square test at significance level of 0.05. Results: Head lice infestation was present in 130 (4.29%) students, while the prevalence of this condition was higher in girls (2.11%) than in boys. The highest prevalence (6.05 %) was observed in children age 6 years old regardless of gender. The rate of head lice infestation was lowest among students aged ≥12 years (3.17%). There was a significant relationship between head louse infestation and parent’s occupation, family size, the frequency of combing and hair style. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of head lice infestation in Tabriz is relatively low, screening and treating schoolchildren should be done continuously in order to reduce the infestation rate.

Details

ISSN :
25384449
Volume :
15
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Medical Laboratory Journal
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....c78f6920f0946bcdd51cd5e4c726e9a4
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.29252/mlj.15.1.13