Occurrence of pediculosis capitis in a population of children from Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia and the vicinities.

Elementary schools in Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia and the neighbourhood, were studied during 1990-1992 to determine the actual extent of head louse infestation in school children as well as to see if there was correlation between incidence of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) and some environmental factors as: the sex and the age of a child, the parents education, family situation and living condition of a child etc.--In the examined sample of normal population of 27,800 school children (aged 6-15 years) 881 (3.2%) pupils were infested with head lice, with the incidence being higher in girls. As many as 382 cases (1.3%) were qualified as a focal type, i.e. with stubborn, repeated reinfestations after following treatments. In the group with focal pediculosis 48.9% and 79.4% of children originated from the families of 4 or more children and from the families where parents had only elementary or trade education. Later, over 50% (53.3-56.6%) of village elementary school children focally infested with head lice lived in old houses mostly supplied only with cold water or even without running water at all. These data confirm the association between head louse infestation and familial, social and hygienic conditions of an infested child.