Prevalence and Risk factors of Pediculosis in Primary Schools of Amol City (Mazandaran Province)

Background: Infection with head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) is regarded as an iconic hygiene index at societal level in addition to being a serious health risk, psychological and pediatric anxiety disorder among schoolchildren.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and determinant factors affecting the epidemiological aspects of pediculosis among primary students in Amol city.Materials and Methods: The study was carried out during 2014-2015 schooling year, observing required permissions of local authorities of Ministry of Health and Medical Education and Ministry of National Education as well as prior informed consent of children and their parents. This descriptive and analytic study focused on prevalence, distribution and socioeconomic causes and risk factors of head lice infection among boys and girls belonging to different cultural strata in Amol City. To this end, 20 schools were randomly selected and demographic and epidemiological data of infected pupils were recorded in questionnaires. Infection was considered positive upon detection of live nits, nymphs or mature lice by examining hair around ears and at back of the neck of each student for 5-7 minutes under natural light. Suspected cases were further examined by a manual lens or combing. Chi-square tests were performed to examine the independence of recorded variable using SPSS-17 software.Results: The average prevalence of head lice infestation was 3.2 among pupils in Amol city. The pediculosis prevalence rated 4.7% in girls and 1.9% in boys. The infection of girls was 2.25 times higher than that of boys. Statistical tests showed significant correlation between head lice infection and gender, age, type of school parental job and education, household size, number of bedrooms, bathing frequency, number of combing, itching, hair size, previous infection and seasonality.Conclusion: The intensity of pediculosis among schoolchildren in Amol city is sex- and age-related and influenced by socio-economic and cultural status of families. The infection rate in Amol is still lower than the average national records does not mount to be a serious health issue. However, control of the disease through public awareness and treatment of existing cases is essential, despite existing controversies in epidemiological data

Keywords:

Pediculosis , Pediculus capitis , Primary schools , Epidemiology , Amol city