Prevalence of pediculosis capitis among Korean children

Parasitol Res. 2010 Nov;107(6):1415-9. doi: 10.1007/s00436-010-2016-6. Epub 2010 Aug 4.

Abstract

Pediculus humanus capitis is an ectoparasite, which causes scalp pruritus particularly among children. A total of 15,373 children including 8,018 boys and 7,355 girls from 26 primary schools and 15 kindergartens attached to the primary schools and a total of 33 children from an orphanage were examined for head lice infestation (HLI). The overall prevalence of HLI in this study was 4.1% including 3.7% of the urban areas and 4.7% of the rural areas. Head lice were found more frequently in girls than in boys with prevalence of 6.5% and 1.9%, respectively. The infestation rate by school grade was 3.2%, 4.7%, 4.2%, 5.0%, 4.9%, 3.8%, and 2.1% for kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, respectively. The infestation rate of the children in an orphanage was 66.7%. The prevalence of HLI has decreased especially in the rural areas. However, HLI is a still health problem of kindergarteners and primary schoolchildren in Korea.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child Day Care Centers
  • Humans
  • Korea / epidemiology
  • Lice Infestations / epidemiology*
  • Orphanages
  • Pediculus*
  • Prevalence
  • Scalp Dermatoses / epidemiology*
  • Scalp Dermatoses / parasitology
  • Schools