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Health Science Reports Nov 2023Head lice is a public health problem of worldwide distribution, particularly among school children and girls. Head lice infestation (HLI) can lead to negative social and...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Head lice is a public health problem of worldwide distribution, particularly among school children and girls. Head lice infestation (HLI) can lead to negative social and psychological outcomes such as distress and anxiety in children and their families. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the role of cognitive-behavioral factors in its spread and prevention among adolescent girls.
METHODS
The cross-sectional study was conducted among 276 school-aged adolescent girls from September 2022 to January 2023 in Herris, a city located in Northwest Iran. A multistage cluster random sample was used to recruit adolescent girls in secondary schools. Two schools were randomly selected from five secondary schools. Then, students in each school were randomly selected from a school list. Data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire.
RESULTS
The high protective behaviors were significantly associated with the number of family members ( = 0.158; value = 0.012). An additional 21.8% of the variation in preventive behaviors was explained by cognitive factors as predictor variables ( value > 0.05). Perceived collective family efficacy, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, and response efficacy were predictors of head lice preventive behaviors, respectively. Among all variables, perceived collective family efficacy was the strongest predictor.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of current research support the determinants of the cognitive-behavioral factors in the spread and prevention of HLI. It is better to involve these factors in school-based educational programs by policymakers and healthcare providers.
PubMed: 37927538
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1679 -
Cureus Sep 2023The review has been done to find out the best-suited treatment modality for pediculosis capitis. Pediatric patients frequently experience pediculosis capitis, a head... (Review)
Review
The review has been done to find out the best-suited treatment modality for pediculosis capitis. Pediatric patients frequently experience pediculosis capitis, a head louse infestation brought on by the Pediculus humanus var. capitis. The primary sign of head lice infestation is a scratchy scalp, and the presence of living nits confirms this diagnosis. When a doctor diagnoses pediculosis as a primary bacterial infection, a bacterial impetignization and secondary infection, and cervical and occipital lymphadenopathy might make the clinical diagnosis more difficult. A proper therapy of pediculosis requires screening and treatment of all close contacts. The careful use of topical pediculicidal treatments, especially permethrin lotion and wet combing with a fine tooth comb, is required for the medical treatment of a head louse infestation. We've tried to outline the key points of treating head lice infestations. There are several treatment alternatives suggested, including over-the-counter permethrin and pyrethrin as well as prescription medications including malathion, lindane, benzyl alcohol, and spinosad.
PubMed: 37829988
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45028 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Jun 2023Head lice infestation (HLI), caused by , is an important public health problem worldwide, especially in primary school children. The aim of this study is to investigate...
OBJECTIVE
Head lice infestation (HLI), caused by , is an important public health problem worldwide, especially in primary school children. The aim of this study is to investigate HLI level, related factors, and families' knowledge levels and attitudes about HLI in two primary schools in a relatively low socio-economic region in İstanbul.
METHODS
A questionnaire on HLI was developed initially and delivered to all children and parents in the school. A total of 340 primary school students, aged between 6-12, were enrolled in the study after the consent of their parents. Their hair were examined for HLI with special combs at their schools, and free anti-lice shampoos were given to parents of positive children. A total of 951 completed questionnaires were received and evaluated with chi-square test using the SPSS 17.0 program, and the differences of p<0.05 were considered significant.
RESULTS
Number of boys in the study was slightly higher than the girls (176 vs. 164). HLI was detected in 32 (9.4%) of 340 children; seven had live adult lice on their hair while 25 had only the nits. HLI was obviously more common in girls (16.4%), compared to boys (2.8%). Analysis of 951 questionnaires revealed a statistically significant difference between HLI and infrequent bathing (p<0.05). The differences between HLI and the education levels of parents, income, the number of siblings and in contact with animals were not found to be significant (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
HLI is still a common health problem, especially in girls in primary schools. Parents are aware of the relationship between the hygiene and prevention against HLI, but low socio-economic resources seem to be important determinants. Regular combing and training activities in primary schools, in coordination with the local authorities and parents are no doubt useful in reducing the incidence of HLI among the children.
Topics: Animals; Lice Infestations; Prevalence; Pediculus; Schools; Epidemiologic Studies; Scalp Dermatoses
PubMed: 37249115
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2023.84803 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Mar 2024The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites and head lice in primary school-aged children and to determine a possible...
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasites and head lice in primary school-aged children and to determine a possible relationship between the co-occurrence of ecto-endoparasites.
METHODS
The study were conducted in three schools in the center of Sivas: Sivas Karşıyaka Primary School, Kılavuz İMKB Primary School, and Karşıyaka 27 June Middle School. The presence of head lice and intestinal parasites was investigated in a total of 563 children aged 6 to 17, with 294 girls and 269 boys. Classroom teachers and students were provided with information about intestinal parasites, head lice, and methods of transmission and prevention, and a questionnaire was administered. During the head lice examination, students were inspected with a comb, and samples with nits were examined under a microscope in the laboratory. Cellophane tape and stool samples obtained from the participants were examined on the same day using the native-lugol, flotation, and trichrome staining methods under a light microscope (x10, x40, x100).
RESULTS
Five hundred sixty-three children were evaluated for head lice and 15 (2.6%) were found to be positive. During the examination, only nits were found in 11 students (1.9%), and both adult lice and nymphs were seen in 4 students (0.7%). Head lice were found positive in 2 out of 269 boys (0.7%), while 13 out of 294 girls (4.2%) positive (p<0.05). As a result of stool examination in children, was found in 11 (1.95%), in 4 (0.71%), sp. in 14 (2.48%), in 8 (1.42%) and spp. in 2 (0.35%). Head lice infestation and spp. were found to coexist in 2 (0.35%) children.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, although there has been a noticeable decrease in head lice and intestinal parasites among primary school-aged children in Sivas province, these conditions are still present, as evidenced by previous studies conducted in our region.
Topics: Adult; Male; Child; Female; Animals; Humans; Pediculus; Lice Infestations; Parasites; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Schools
PubMed: 38449365
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2023.04796 -
Parasitology Aug 2023Rodents are known hosts for various ectoparasite taxa such as fleas, lice, ticks and mites. South Africa is recognized for its animal diversity, yet little is published...
Rodents are known hosts for various ectoparasite taxa such as fleas, lice, ticks and mites. South Africa is recognized for its animal diversity, yet little is published about the parasite diversity associated with wild rodent species. By focusing on a wildlife-human/domestic animal interface, the study aims to record ectoparasite diversity and levels of infestations of the Bushveld gerbil, , and to establish the relationship between ectoparasite infestation parameters and host- and habitat factors. Rodents ( = 127) were trapped in 2 habitat types (natural and agricultural) during 2014–2020. More than 6500 individuals of 32 epifaunistic species represented by 21 genera and belonging to 5 taxonomic groups (fleas, sucking lice, ticks, mesostigmatan mites and trombiculid mites) were collected. Mesostigmatan mites and lice were the most abundant and fleas and mesostigmatan mites the most prevalent groups. Flea and mesostigmatan mite numbers and mesostigmatan mite species richness was significantly higher on reproductively active male than female rodents. Only ticks were significantly associated with habitat type, with significantly higher tick numbers and more tick species on rodents in the natural compared to the agricultural habitat. We conclude that the level of infestation by ectoparasites closely associated with the host (fleas and mites) was affected by host-associated factors, while infestation by ectoparasite that spend most of their life in the external environment (ticks) was affected by habitat type.
Topics: Animals; Male; Female; Humans; Gerbillinae; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Mites; Ticks; Flea Infestations; Siphonaptera; Phthiraptera; Trombiculidae; Ecosystem
PubMed: 37272490
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182023000562 -
PeerJ 2023Following school closures and changes in contact behavior of children and adults a reduced head louse prevalence has been reported from across the globe. In parallel,...
Following school closures and changes in contact behavior of children and adults a reduced head louse prevalence has been reported from across the globe. In parallel, sales of treatments were observed to fall, partly because of supply problems of some products following the pandemic, but this did not appear to result in more cases of infestation. Surveys of schools in and around Cambridge, UK, found that infestation rates were significantly reduced particularly in city schools compared with similar surveys conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrary to expectation the number of cases in schools has only risen slowly since schools returned to normal full time working in 2022-2023.
Topics: Adult; Child; Animals; Humans; Pediculus; Pandemics; Prevalence; COVID-19; Lice Infestations; United Kingdom
PubMed: 37701830
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16001 -
The Pan African Medical Journal 2024
Topics: Animals; Humans; Pediculus; Eyelashes; Lice Infestations
PubMed: 38558554
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2024.47.29.42559 -
Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia 2023
Topics: Humans; Scalp; Lice Infestations; Hair; Eyelashes; Eyelid Diseases
PubMed: 38088669
DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.2023-0213