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Two contagious ectoparasites in an orphanage children in Nasr City, Cairo

T A Morsy1, R G el-Ela, A T Morsy

  • 1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt.

Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Head lice, body lice, and scabies are common ectoparasites in children. A study in an orphanage found high infestation rates of head louse (64.1%), body louse (53.8%), and scabies (26.9%) among children aged 2-6.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Entomology
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Ectoparasitic infestations like lice and scabies are significant communicable diseases.
  • Crowded living conditions, especially in orphanages, can facilitate parasite transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of head louse, body louse, and scabies infestations.
  • To assess ectoparasite burden in orphanage-dwelling children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional examination was conducted on children aged 2-6 years in an orphanage.
  • Infestation rates for head louse, body louse, and scabies were recorded.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of head louse infestation was 64.1%.
  • Prevalence of body louse infestation was 53.8%.
  • Prevalence of scabies infestation was 26.9%.

Conclusions:

  • Orphanage children exhibit high rates of ectoparasitic infestations.
  • Urgent public health interventions are needed to control lice and scabies in institutionalized children.

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