Evaluation of a Potential Association between Head Lice (Pediculus capitis) Infestation and Anemia among Female Primary School Students in Holy Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Aims: This study aimed to determine if there was an association between head lice infestation and anemia among female primary schools students. Study Design: Case-control study. Place and Duration of Study: Holy Makkah, Saudi Arabia between August 2020 and November 2020. Methodology: We conducted a case-control study by comparing hemoglobin levels among study subjects with and without head lice infestation. Female students at 6 randomly selected primary schools were examined for the presence of head lice. Hemoglobin levels were obtained from each study subject; both those with and without head lice. Selected characteristics of study subjects were recorded and examined to determine associations between those factors and anemia. Results: A total of 82 subjects were included in the study; 44 subjects with head lice. The average (± standard deviation) age of subjects was 11 (± 2) (range: 6-11) years. We found a significant (p<0.028) association between the presence of head lice and hemoglobin level, the OR= 2.036 at 95% confidence interval 0.23 to 18.009. The mean of hemoglobin in subjects with lice was 13(±2) while the level in subjects without lice was 14.8(±2). Other factors significantly associated with the level of hemoglobin were being aged 10-11 years (p<0.05) and having a non-working mother (p<0.05). Conclusion: In our study we found a significant association between head lice and level of hemoglobin among study subjects. Further studies are needed to determine the reason of this association in order to determine the appropriate management and prevention of this problem.

PEDIKULOSIS ANAK DI SALAH SATU PERUMAHAN DI BEKASI

Pendahuluan: Pedikulosis adalah iritasi kulit yang disebabkan oleh spesies kutu rambut Pediculus capitis. Pediculus capitis menyerang anak terutama di lingkungan yang padat dan akibat aktivitas bermain bersama. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui angka kejadian pediculosis capitis di salah satu perumahan di Bekasi. Metode Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian deskriptif kualitatif dengan desain crossectional. Pemeriksaan kutu rambut dilakukan pada 44 responden anak-anak pada rentang usia 3-12tahun. Penelitian dilakukan pada 10-15 Februari 2019 di salah satu perumahan di Cibitung Bekasi. Hasil: Hasil penelitian mengenai pedikulosis pada anak usia 3-12 tahun yang positif mengalami kejadian pedikulosis yaitu 28 anak perempuan dengan persentase 85% dari 33 anak perempuan dan 4 anak laki-laki dari 11 anak laki-laki dengan persentase 36%. Kesimpulan: Kejadian pedikulosis lebih tinggi dialami oleh anak perempuan dibandingkan dengan anak laki-laki karena berkaitan dengan faktor resiko seperti jenis rambut, penggunaan handuk secara bersama, penggunaan sampo saat keramas, riwayat keluarga mengalami kutu rambut, rutinitas mengganti sprei tempat tidur seminggu sekali, tidur ditempat tidur secara bersama, menggunakan sisir bersama dan penggunaan aksesoris secara bersama.

Pedikulosis Anak di Salah Satu Perumahan Bekasi

Pedikulosis adalah iritasi kulit yang disebabkan oleh spesies kutu rambut Pediculus capitis. Pediculus capitis menyerang anak terutama di lingkungan yang padat dan akibat aktivitas bermain bersama. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui angka kejadian pediculosis capitis di salah satu perumahan di Bekasi. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian deskriptif kualitatif dengan desain crossectional. Pemeriksaan kutu rambut dilakukan pada 44 responden anak-anak pada rentang usia 3-12tahun. Penelitian dilakukan pada 10-15 Februari 2019 di salah satu perumahan di Cibitung Bekasi. Hasil penelitian mengenai pedikulosis pada anak usia 3-12 tahun yang positif mengalami kejadian pedikulosis yaitu 28 anak perempuan dengan persentase 85% dari 33 anak perempuan dan 4 anak laki-laki dari 11 anak laki-laki dengan persentase 36%. Kejadian pedikulosis lebih tinggi dialami oleh anak perempuan dibandingkan dengan anak laki-laki karena berkaitan dengan faktor resiko seperti jenis rambut, penggunaan handuk secara bersama, penggunaan sampo saat keramas, riwayat keluarga mengalami kutu rambut, rutinitas mengganti sprei tempat tidur seminggu sekali, tidur ditempat tidur secara bersama, menggunakan sisir bersama dan penggunaan aksesoris secara bersama. Kata Kunci : Anak, kutu, pedikulosis, lingkungan,Bekasi

Problemática da pediculose em escolas públicas de diferentes municípios do estado de Alagoas: uma visão dos gestores

RESUMO: A Pediculose é uma doença ectoparasitária, frequentemente encontrada em ambiente escolar, de grande importância para saúde pública, causada pelo Pediculus capitis. Este ectoparasito, conhecido popularmente como piolho, atinge entre 15 a 20% das crianças, todos os anos, a nível mundial e, pela coceira que provoca no couro cabeludo, pode abrir portas de entrada para infecções oportunistas, originando o impetigo (feridas na cabeça). O parasitismo pelo piolho pode estar associado ao comprometimento do rendimento escolar, principalmente devido à diminuição da autoestima, que pode interferir nas atividades diárias dos estudantes. O presente trabalho objetivou verificar a presença da problemática pediculose do couro cabeludo nas escolas da zona urbana de rede pública das cidades: Branquinha, Murici, São José da Laje e União dos Palmares, com o intuito de se traçar um diagnóstico inicial, através de um questionário direcionado aos gestores de 26 escolas, pertencentes a estas cidades. Em 50% das escolas havia a indicação da presença da problemática, nas outras 50% os gestores afirmaram não existir ou não ter conhecimento da presença da ectoparasitose. Os dados possibilitaram identificar que o período após as chuvas, com temperaturas elevadas e úmidas e após as férias escolares (fevereiro e agosto) é o de maior ocorrência de pediculose nos escolares, segundo os gestores. Através deste diagnóstico inicial pode-se planejar estratégias de sensibilização em educação para saúde, bem como estudos para o controle deste ectoparasito nas escolas onde é frequentemente encontrado. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Pediculus capitis, Comunidade escolar, Pediculose.

Ectoparasitos ou suas lesões sugestivas em escolares de duas instituições da rede pública de um município do Nordeste brasileiro

RESUMO: As ectoparasitoses são frequentes em crianças em idade escolar e avaliar o status ectoparasitário torna-se relevante. Este estudo estabeleceu o status ectoparasitário dos escolares de ensino fundamental de 5 a 16 anos de idade, em duas instituições de ensino no município de União dos Palmares-AL, a partir da identificação in loco do ectoparasito ou de suas lesões sugestivas e de inquérito epidemiológico aos responsáveis. Foram avaliados 470 escolares em dois períodos diferentes (um período chuvoso e um período não chuvoso) para investigação da presença de lesão ou do próprio ectoparasito, pela inspeção corporal superficial (mãos, pés e cabelos). Entre os casos avaliados, observou-se ocorrência de 154 casos positivos, sendo 5% destes de Tunga penetrans, 65% Pediculus capitis e 30% Sarcoptes scabiei. A prevalência das ectoparasitoses foi de 21,3% para P. capitis, 10% para S. escabiei, e 1,5% para T. penetrans. Do total de casos positivos para alguma ectoparasitose, 41,5% (54/154) foram encontrados no período chuvoso e 23,4% (36/154) no período não chuvoso. Todos os casos positivos foram encaminhados ao tratamento. O estudo mostrou infestações para as principais ectoparasitoses, especialmente pediculose e escabiose, o que determina a grande importância dos ectoparasitos. Além disso, apesar de não existir períodos longos de estiagem na zona da mata alagoana, no período de escassez de chuvas, com altas temperaturas, característico da região, foi observada maior ocorrência para a pediculose, sendo determinada aqui a influência do período de coleta. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: doenças parasitárias, ectoparasitoses, saúde pública.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Pediculus Capitis Prevention and Control and Their Predictors among Schoolchildren in Woreta Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2018: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Pediculus capitis is a human head lice infestation, a major public health issue that is most prevalent in resource-limited countries globally. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pediculus capitis prevention and control and their predictors among schoolchildren in North West Ethiopia. Methods. About 402 randomly selected schoolchildren from three schools in Woreta town participated in the study from April to June 2018. The outcomes of this study were knowledge, attitude, and self-reported practice of schoolchildren about pediculus capitis prevention and control. We used EPI Info 7.1 and SPSS 21 software for data entry and analysis, respectively. Binary logistic regression was employed to test the association of covariates with the outcome/response variables. Variables with a p value <0.2 during the bivariable binary logistic regression analysis were included in the multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. Variables with p value <0.05 were declared as significantly associated with outcomes. Results. The mean age of the study participants was 10.19 (±1.62) years. About 58.8%, 45.8%, and 78.6% of the schoolchildren had better self-reported pediculus capitis prevention knowledge, attitude, and practice, respectively. Age of children [9 to 11 years (AOR=2.24, 95% C.I (1.10, 4.55)) and>12 years (AOR=3.84, 95% C.I (1.56, 9.46))], better practice (AOR=2.93, 95% C.I (1.39, 6.18)), and those who were not infested (AOR=2.25, 95% C.I (1.14, 4.44)) were predictors of knowledge regarding pediculus capitis prevention. Better practice (AOR=4.33, 95% C.I (1.69, 11.09)) and absence of infestation (AOR=2.97, 95% C.I (1.64, 5.36)) were predictors of attitude of schoolchildren about pediculus capitis prevention. Number of students in a class [51 to 56 students per classroom, AOR=4.61, 95% C.I (1.83, 11.67); 57 to 58 students per classroom, AOR=8.18, 95% C.I (2.73, 24.46)], less than five family size (AOR=2.37, 95% C.I (1.24, 4.54)), better knowledge (AOR=2.93, 95% C.I (1.32, 6.50)), desirable attitude (AOR=4.24, 95% C.I (1.60, 11.23)), and absence of infestation (AOR=3.52, 95% C.I (1.22, 10.15)) were predictors of self-reported pediculus capitis prevention practice. Conclusion. The knowledge, attitude, and practice of schoolchildren regarding pediculus capitis prevention and control were not satisfactory. To bring change, intensive efforts on factors associated with the knowledge, attitude, and practice should be encouraged.