TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence of Pediculus humanus capitis infestation in school children at Despenaderos, Cordoba Province JF - Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Medicas de la Universidad Nac. de Cordoba Y1 - 2003 A1 - Ramirez,A. A1 - Luduena Almeida,F. F. A1 - Almiron,W. R. SP - 43 EP - 53 KW - animals KW - Argentina KW - child KW - English Abstract KW - humans KW - Lice Infestations/epidemiology KW - Pediculus KW - Prevalence KW - risk factors KW - scalp dermatoses KW - Seasons KW - Severity of Illness Index KW - Socioeconomic Factors AB -

Paper in Spanish. Title: Prevalencia de infestación por Pediculus humanus capitis en escolares de despeñaderos (Provincia de Córdoba) / Prevalence of pediculus humanus capitis infestation in schoolchildren at Despeñaderos, Córdoba Province

BACKGROUND: Approximately 80% of Argentine children have pediculosis, making it imperious to detect the defects in the prevention and control actions for this parasitosis. OBJECTIVES: To study the infestation level by P. h. capitis, its temporal variation, and the association between infestation and host characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A monthly census in children of 6-8 years old from 2 primary schools (state and private) was carried out, recording the parasite stages found, children characteristics (sex, colour and length of hair), and infestation level. Data were analysed by means of contingency tables, difference of proportions, quotient of chances, and rank correlation coefficient. The independence of variables was analysed by c' test. RESULTS: The prevalence and chances of becoming infested were higher at the state school, where also all infestation levels were recorded, which did not occur at the private institute. The frequency of children infested was significantly lower when they had short hair. The correlation among infestation degree and hair length (short-long) was only significant for boys. Pediculosis cases were recorded at the beginning of the school year in both educative institutions, which demonstrated that infestation was acquired not only at school but also at home. CONCLUSIONS: Pediculosis is a social problems and the whole community must participate in preventive and control actions, for which sanitary education is essential, and the myth that the school is the only place of contagion must be eradicated.

CY - Argentina VL - 60 SN - 0014-6722 IS - 2 N1 - LR: 20041117; JID: 8303003; ppublish ER -