Prevalence of Pediculosis in Baquba City, Diyala Province

Abstract

Background: Pediculosis capitis is an infectious disease caused by an ectoparasite human insect, can be seen with the naked eye, which often causes scalp itching, it is not a dangerous disease but annoying diseases. Pediculosis capitis is an endemic parasitosis affecting many countries of the world ,also it is prevalent in Iraq, often affects the children ,it is an ubiquitous problem in children have high resistance to some pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of pediculosis in Baquba city and to determine certain epidemiological criteria related to pediculosis. Patients and Methods: This cross-section study has been done on 155 patients affected by lice who were visit dermatological clinical out patient in Baquba teaching hospital Diyala, Iraq, from the first of November 2020 to the thirty of August 202, history and physical examination was done by the dermatologist, and a sheet of special questionnaire was used for every patient. Results: The results show that children less than 10 years were 59(38.06%) out of 155 who were mostly affected. It was more in females, they were 123(79.35%), while males they were 32(20.64%). Girls less than 10 had a higher percentage, 39(25.16%) out of 123 females, than other age groups. People living in urban and rural areas were equally affected; in urban areas they were 73(47.09%) while in rural areas they were 82(52.90%). Pediculosis was highly distributed among students; they were 58(37.41%) out of 155.The most significant symptom of pediculosis was scalp itching people who suffered from itching were 131(84.51%) while people who had no symptom were 24(15.48%). There was no relationship between pediculosis capitis infections and the family size. It was more prevalent in families living in overcrowded homes; they were 76(49.03%) out of 155 who had only two bedrooms. Pediculosis capitis was more common in summer months in April they were 21(15.54%) in May they were 24(16.48%) in June they were 21(15.54%) in July they were 22(14.19%). Conclusion: Pediculosis were more prevalent among school-age children, so we must spread awareness among the student about how lice are transmitted not to share hair comb or hair clips, also raising awareness of parents about the use of effective and beneficial treatments to eliminate the disease.

Keywords

• Pediculosis capitis , Prevalence, School age children , Scalp itching ,Baquba