Gholami Zohreh, Saaid Dayer Mohammad, Azarm Amrollah
Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2024 Mar 31;18(1):57-67. doi: 10.18502/jad.v18i1.15672. eCollection 2024 Mar.
Head louse infestation, pediculosis, is a serious health problem worldwide. Infected children usually suffer from itching, allergies, and secondary infections besides psychological disorders such as depression and lack of self-confidence leading to school failure. This study aimed to investigate the status of pediculosis and its determinant factors among schoolchildren in Amol City, Northern Iran.
This study included 228 schools frequented by about 20017 students. Pediculosis was determined by careful examination of students' hair on the scalp, back of the neck, and around the ears. The diagnosis was based on observation of live adults, nymphs, and nits. A questionnaire was used to record the personal and demographic characteristics of participants.
This study revealed that the prevalence of pediculosis among schoolchildren during all schooling seasons (autumn, winter, and spring) correlated with sex: the prevalence being higher among girls than boys (p= 0.00). In addition, the highest rates of pediculosis occurred during the autumn season (p= 0.00). The public schools accommodated higher numbers of louse-infected students than the private ones (p= 0.00). While head louse occurred at higher frequencies in long hair over the schooling year, dandruff had anti-louse effects (p= 0.00) during cold seasons, autumn, and winter. Socioeconomic status and educational level of parents played determinant roles in head louse prevalence (p= 0.00). Schoolchildren coming from socioeconomically well-situated families had lower rates of head louse infestation.
Our results showed that head pediculosis was a serious health problem among schoolchildren in Amol city and its prevalence and severity tended to be multifactorial.
头虱感染，即头虱病，是全球范围内一个严重的健康问题。受感染的儿童除了会出现诸如抑郁和缺乏自信等心理障碍，进而导致学业失败外，通常还会遭受瘙痒、过敏和继发性感染。本研究旨在调查伊朗北部阿莫勒市学童的头虱病状况及其决定因素。
本研究涵盖了228所学校，约20017名学生就读于这些学校。通过仔细检查学生头皮、颈部后侧和耳朵周围的头发来确定是否患有头虱病。诊断基于对活成虫、若虫和虱卵的观察。使用问卷记录参与者的个人和人口统计学特征。
本研究表明，在所有上学季节（秋季、冬季和春季），学童头虱病的患病率与性别相关：女孩的患病率高于男孩（p = 0.00）。此外，头虱病发病率最高的季节是秋季（p = 0.00）。公立学校感染头虱的学生人数多于私立学校（p = 0.00）。在整个学年中，长发上头虱出现的频率更高，而在寒冷季节（秋季和冬季），头皮屑具有抗虱作用（p = 0.00）。父母的社会经济地位和教育水平在头虱患病率方面起决定性作用（p = 0.00）。来自社会经济状况良好家庭的学童头虱感染率较低。
我们的结果表明，头虱病是阿莫勒市学童中的一个严重健康问题，其患病率和严重程度往往受多种因素影响。
