RESEARCH PAPER
Head pediculosis in schoolchildren in the eastern region of the European Union
1
Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
Corresponding author
Katarzyna Bartosik
Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2015;22(4):599-603
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Objective:
The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of head pediculosis among children from state primary schools in the villages and towns in eastern Poland, one of the poorest regions of the European Union.
Material and Methods:
The study was conducted in 2009–2012 in 30 rural and urban State schools. Current and previous results (1996–2000) of examinations performed in the study area were compared. The impact of socioeconomic factors on the prevalence of head pediculosis in eastern Poland in the period of 16 years was analysed.
Results:
Pediculosis was diagnosed in 2.01% of the schoolchildren, more frequently in pupils from rural (3.52%) than urban (0.98%) schools. Lice infestation was higher in girls (59.52%) than in boys (40.48%). The risk of pediculosis in children increased in schools that did not employ a nurse (mean 5.07%) and decreased when a part-time (mean 2.96%) or full-time nurse (mean 1.01%) was employed. The incidence of pediculosis doubled despite the improvement in the socioeconomic status of the population observed within the last 16 years.
Conclusions:
The results indicate that personal hygiene behaviour may be of key importance in determining the spread of the disease.
The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of head pediculosis among children from state primary schools in the villages and towns in eastern Poland, one of the poorest regions of the European Union.
Material and Methods:
The study was conducted in 2009–2012 in 30 rural and urban State schools. Current and previous results (1996–2000) of examinations performed in the study area were compared. The impact of socioeconomic factors on the prevalence of head pediculosis in eastern Poland in the period of 16 years was analysed.
Results:
Pediculosis was diagnosed in 2.01% of the schoolchildren, more frequently in pupils from rural (3.52%) than urban (0.98%) schools. Lice infestation was higher in girls (59.52%) than in boys (40.48%). The risk of pediculosis in children increased in schools that did not employ a nurse (mean 5.07%) and decreased when a part-time (mean 2.96%) or full-time nurse (mean 1.01%) was employed. The incidence of pediculosis doubled despite the improvement in the socioeconomic status of the population observed within the last 16 years.
Conclusions:
The results indicate that personal hygiene behaviour may be of key importance in determining the spread of the disease.
REFERENCES (25)
1.
Falagas ME, Mattaiou DK, Rafailidis PI, Panos G, Pappas G. Worldwide prevalence of head lice. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008; 14(9): 1493–1494.
3.
Fernández S, Fernández A, Armentia A, Pineda F. Allergy due to head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis). Allergy 2006; 61(11): 1372.
4.
Buczek A, Markowska-Gosik D, Widomska D, Kawa IM. Pediculosis capitis among schoolchildren in urban and rural areas of eastern Poland. Eur J Epidemiol. 2004; 19(5): 491–495.
6.
Durand R, Millard B, Bouges-Michel C, Bruel C, Bouvresse S, Izri A. Detection of pyrethroid resistance gene in head lice in schoolchildren from Bobigny, France. J Med Entomol. 2007; 44(5): 796–798.
7.
Willems S, Lapeere H, Haedens N, Pasteels I, Naeyaert J-M, De Maeseneer J. The importance of socio-economic status and individual characteristics on the prevalence of head lice in schoolchildren. Eur J Dermatol. 2005; 15(5): 387–392.
8.
Manjrekar RR, Partridge SK, Korman AK, Barwick RS, Juranek DD. Efficacy of 1% permethrin for the treatment of head louse infestations among Kosovar refugees. Mil Med. 2000; 165(9): 698–700.
9.
Bugayong AMS, Araneta KTS, Cabanilla JC, Gayatgay CEU, Nufuar EJT, Rufino KHS, Caro MAC, Padilla PI. Effect of dry-on, suffocation-based treatment on the prevalence of pediculosis among schoolchildren in Calagtangan Village, Miag-ao, Iloilo. Philipp Sci Lett. 2011; 1(4): 33–37.
10.
Chouela L, Abeldano A, Cirigliano M, Ducard M, Neglia V, Forgia ML, Colombo A. Head louse infestations: epidemiologic survey and treatment evaluation in Argentinian schoolchildren. Int J Dermatol. 1997; 36(11): 819–825.
11.
Morsy TA, el-Ela RG, Morsy AT, Nassar MM, Khalaf SA. Two contagious ectoparasites in an orphanage children in Nasr City, Cairo. J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2000; 30(3): 727–734.
12.
Manrique-Saide P, Pavía-Ruz N, Rodríguez-Buenfil JC , Herrera Herrera R, Gómez-Ruiz P, Pilger D. Prevalence of pediculosis capitis in children from a rural school in Yucatan, Mexico. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2011; 56(6): 325–327.
13.
Toloza A, Vassena C, Gallardo A, Gonzáles-Audino P, Picollo MI. Epidemiology of Pediculosis capitis in elementary schools of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Parasitol Res. 2009; 104(6): 1295–1298.
14.
Arm ZS, Nusier MN. Pediculosis capitis in northern Jordan. Int J Dermatol. 2000; 39(12): 919–921.
15.
Sim S, Lee WJ, Yu JR, Lee IY, Lee SH, Oh SY, Seo M, Chai JY. Risk factors associated with head louse infestation in Korea. Korean J Parasitol. 2011; 49(1): 95–98.
16.
Yuosefi S, Shamsipoor F, Abadi YS. Epidemiological Study of Head Louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) Infestation Among Primary School Students in Rural Areas of Sirjan County, South of Iran. Thrita J Med Sci. 2012; 1(2): 53–56.
18.
Buczek A, Pabis B, Bartosik K, Stanislawek IM, Salata M, Pabis A. Epidemiological study of scabies in different environmental conditions in central Poland. Ann Epidemiol. 2006; 16(6): 423–428.
19.
Bartosik K, Lachowska-Kotowska P, Szymańska J, Pabis A, Buczek A. Lyme borreliosis in south-eastern Poland: relationships with environmental factors and medical attention standards. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2011; 18(1): 131–137.
20.
Heukelbach J, Mazigo HD, Ugbomoiko US. Impact of scabies in resource-poor communities. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2013; 26(2): 127–132.
21.
Lonc E, Okulewicz A. Scabies and head-lice infestations in different environmental conditions of Lower Silesia, Poland. J Parasitol. 2000; 86(1): 170–171.
22.
Gliniewicz A, Sawicka B, Kędra E, Wieloch W. Head pediculosis in children’s homes in Warsaw and Mazowieckie Province in the years 2007–2008: its occurrence and control. In: Buczek A, Błaszak C (eds.). Arthropods. Invasions and their control, Lublin 2009.p.233–41.
23.
Mumcuoglu KY, Miller J, Manor O, Ben-Yshai F, Klaus S. The prevalence of ectoparasites in Ethiopian immigrants. Isr J Med Sci. 1993; 29(6–7): 371–373.
24.
Wegner Z, Racewicz M, Stańczak J. Occurrence of pediculosis capitis in a population of children from Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia and the vicinities. Appl Parasitol. 1994; 35(3): 219–225.
25.
Piotrowski F. Head pediculosis among children and youth in Gdańskie Province in 1979. Wiad Parazytol. 1982; 28(2–3):133–137 (In Polish).
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 1898-2263 |
| ISSN: | 1232-1966 |
Improvement of visual identification of the journal - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher Education allocated to the activities of disseminating science.
Generation of the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher
© 2006-2024 Journal hosting platform by Bentus
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
