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[Pediculosis prevalence and associated risk factors in a nursery school, Bogotá, Colombia]
Sandra Milena Ríos1, Julián Alfredo Fernández, Favio Rivas
1Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia.
Insights
Head lice (Pediculus humanus) infestations are common in schoolchildren, particularly in developing countries. This study found a high prevalence in a nursery school, linked to longer hair and poor hygiene practices.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Pediculosis is a significant global health concern, disproportionately affecting children in resource-limited settings.
- Substandard hygiene practices are frequently associated with high infestation rates.
- Understanding infestation patterns is crucial for effective control strategies.
Purpose:
- To estimate the prevalence and seasonality of Pediculus humanus infestation in a nursery school population.
- To explore associations between infestation and hygiene standards, hair characteristics, and socioeconomic factors.
- To analyze prevalence differences across age groups over a seven-month period.
Summary:
- A seven-month study in a Colombian nursery school involving 178 children (3 months to 5 years) examined Pediculus humanus prevalence.
- Higher prevalence was observed in children aged 4-5 years at the school year's start.
- Associations were noted with hair length over 11.5 cm, infrequent hair washing, shared personal items, and larger household size, though not statistically significant due to sample size.
Impact:
- The findings highlight the continued prevalence of Pediculus humanus infestations in young children.
- Identifies specific risk factors including hair length, hygiene habits, and household crowding.
- Informs targeted public health interventions and educational programs for improved infestation management.
Introduction:
Pediculosis is one of the most important chronic infestations in schoolchildren worldwide. Infestations show a high prevalence among the poorest children in developing countries, and it is associated with substandard hygienic practices.
Objective:
The prevalence was estimated and seasonality described of a Pediculus infestation of seven months duration in a nursery school. Associations were explored among the standards of hygienic practices and hair characteristics.
Materials And Methods:
One hundred and seventy-eight nursery school children between the ages of 3 months to 5 years, from the nursery school located at National University of Colombia, Bogotá, were participants in the study. The children were examined for presence of Pediculus humanus infestation each month for seven months. The lengths and thicknesses of hair were measured at the first examination. A survey requesting information on socioeconomic and hygienic practices was provided to the caretakers of the children. Prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals were estimated for each explored association, and also to describe the differences of prevalences between age groups in each period.
Results:
The highest prevalence was found in the children between the ages of 4 and 5 years, at the beginning of the school year. A positive association was indicated between Pediculus infestation and hair longer than 11.5 cm [prevalence rate (PR)=2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82-4.8], washing the hair less than three times a week (PR=1.58; 95%CI: 0.58-4.7), as well as sharing cleaning implements (PR=1.31; 95%CI: 38-4.46) and living with more than five people at home (PR=2.04; 95%CI: 0.8-5.06). Due to the limited size of the sample, none of the associations found were statistically significant.
Conclusion:
Pediculus infestation has a high prevalence in children of the nursery school studied. This infestation is associated with substandard hygienic practices, living with more than five people at home and the length of hair.
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