Pediculosis among school children in a primary school in Millij Village, Menoufia Governorate

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 Ι  had  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 Ι 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 Ι 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 Ι 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%