[Epidemiological study of pediculosis capitis and scabies in schoolchildren from Antofagasta, Chile, 1995]

In order to contribute to a better knowledge of the pediculosis capitis and scabies during March-December 1995, 1122 primary schoolchildren under 14 years of age in the city-port of Antofagasta in northern Chile (20 degrees South lat.), were examined. A total of 285 (25.4%) were found to be infested with Pediculus humanus capitis and only 20 (1.8%) with Sarcoptes scabiei. In general the rates of infestation to both ectoparasitic diseases were higher in groups of younger schoolchildren, also higher in women than in men and in those groups with high indexes of crowding and ignorance of the transmission mechanism of pediculosis capitis and scabies.