Prevalence of Pediculus humanus capitis infestation among kindergarten children in Bahía Blanca city, Argentina

GUTIÉRREZ, M.M.; J.O.WERDIN GONZÁLEZ, J.O.; STEFANAZZI, N.; SERRALUNGA, G.; YAÑEZ, L.; FERRERO, A.A.

PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2012 vol. 111 p. 1309 - 13013

0932-0113

The human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer (Anoplura: Pediculidae), is a worldwide public health concern. This human obligate ectoparasite usually infests school age children. The aim of this work was to investigate the prevalence of head lice in kindergarten children from Bahia Blanca. In addition, the influence of risk factors for pediculosis infestation, such as gender, hair characteristics, and socioeconomic class, was studied in relation to the prevalence of this ectoparasite. From a total of 220 pupils examined (125 girls and 95 boys), 94 showed pediculosis. The overall prevalence of head lice infestationwas 42.7 %. Pediculosiswas more frequent in girls (53.6 %) than in boys (28.4 %) and in medium, long, and very long hairs. No differences were found between socioeconomic classes. This indicated that head lice are relatively common in kindergarten children from Bahía Blanca.