Abstract
Background: Pediculosis is a common public health problem affecting school children. The objective of this
study was to determine the overall prevalence of pediculosis in school children and comparison between sex,
age groups, and income groups.
Material & Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Life Sciences,
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan from September 2013 to December 2013. A sample of 1320
children aging 05-15 years was collected by convenience sampling from two schools at Samina Town in district
D.G. Khan of south Punjab. The presence of louse was determined macroscopically and microscopically. Sex,
age groups, income groups, and presence of louse (pediculosis) were variables. All these categorical data were
analyzed by number and percentage. Chi-square test was used to determine the significance of difference in
proportion for pediculosis between the two groups of sex, three age groups, and three income groups. Alpha
value of <0.5 was fixed.
Results: Out of 1320 school children, 465 (35.22%) were boys and 855 (64.78%) girls. Out of 1320, 980 (74.24%)
were positive for pediculosis. Pediculosis was positive in 272 (20.60%) boys, and 708 (53.64%) girls with higher
prevalence in girls (p<0.001). Pediculosis had highest prevalence i.e. 470 (35.60%) in age group of 5-7 years
(p<0.001). Pediculosis had highest prevalence i.e. 610 (46.21%) in low income group (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Pediculosis is a common public health problem affecting school children. The prevalence is significantly
more in girls, lower age group, and lower income group.
Mushtaq Hussain Lashari, Nuzhat Sial, Muhammad Saleem Akhtar, Farzana Siddique, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Yousaf, Muhammad Shafiq Chaudhary, Zahida Tasawar. (2015) PREVALENCE OF HEAD LICE AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN, Gomal Journal of Medical Sciences , Volume 13, Issue 4.
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