The Prevalence of Pediculosis Capitis In Primary School Children In Assuit Governorate ( A Socioeconomic Study )

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 The Departments of Dermatology &Venereology Faculty of Medicine. AL – Azhar university .

2 Public Health Faculty of Medicine. AL – Azhar university .

Abstract

This study was carried out in 2005 to determine the prevalence of pediculosis capitis and some risk factors among primary school pupils in Assuit .We selected 1200 pupils (53% girls) from primary schools by random sampling. Their hair was examined for head rate of infestation: 45 (3.8%) were infected with lice, 43 (95.5%) girls and 2 ( 4.5%) boys. The highest louse of infestation was in 9 years olds. There was a significant relationship between head louse infestation and sex ( P < 0.0001), age( P<ٍ0.05 ), parents education ( P<0.0001), father's job (P< 0.01), family size (P< 0.01), length of hair ( P< 0.0001) and having separate bathing facilities in the house (P< 0.0001).