Headlice in schoolchildren from Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar state, Venezuela

• Main Authors: Rodolfo Devera, Ytalia Blanco, José Nastasi-Miranda, Deisi Duerto, Delci Figuera, Vicmar González, Raquel Guevara, Katherine Hernández, Yasvict Lanza, María Taboada
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Universidad del Zulia,Facultad de Medicina,Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Tropicales 2015
• Subjects: pediculosis capitis; Pediculus; escolares; epidemiología; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/968c00abd52544ff8507efcae97c85c3

Between April and July 2013 a cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of headlice in children aged 6-15 years enrolled in four schools in Ciudad Bolívar, Bolivar State, Venezuela. The parasitological diagnosis was made by direct observation of eggs, nymphs and/or adults on the scalp and/or hair. After signing the informed consent, we filled a clinical and epidemiologic record to each participant. 697 children (40.3%) of the 1730 school enrollment were evaluated, determining a prevalence of 25.1% (175/697). Girls were significantly more infected (42.4%) (OR: 9.35 p<0.05). All age groups were affected (χ2 (Yates correction) = 6.90 d.f.: 4 p> 0.05), but the group of 8-11 years was predominant (70.3%). Factors associated with a higher prevalence of headlice were female (OR: 9.35 p<0.05), having previously had the disease (OR: 5.76 p<0.05) and have long hair (OR: 7.12 p<0.05) and dirty (OR: 2.20 p<0.05). In conclusion, although the headlice prevalence was relatively low (25.1%), we verified that this parasitoses remains a major medical problem in schoolchildren in Ciudad Bolivar.