HEAD LICE INFESTATION IN CHILDREN IN DAY-CARE CENTERS AND SCHOOLS OF MANAUS, AMAZON, BRAZIL
Head lice infestation is a public health problem, which, though more prevalent in children, may occur in all age groups. From July 2009 to February 2010 a total of 976 children aged 0-12 years who attended four schools and three day-care centers in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, were screened for t...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2011 |
| País: | Brasil |
| Institución: | Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) |
| Repositorio: | Revista de patologia tropical (Online) |
| Idioma: | portugués |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ojs.revistas.ufg.br:article/15977 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://revistas.ufg.br/iptsp/article/view/15977 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Head lice Prevalence Children Manaus Amazon. Pediculose Crianças Creches Escolas Amazonas. |
| Sumario: | Head lice infestation is a public health problem, which, though more prevalent in children, may occur in all age groups. From July 2009 to February 2010 a total of 976 children aged 0-12 years who attended four schools and three day-care centers in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, were screened for the presence of head lice. The prevalence rate was 18.5%, with black (X2 0.05 (1) = 4.655) female children (X2 0.05(1) = 151.324) with dark hair (X2 0.05(1) = 9.942) showing the highest prevalence rates. The type (X20.05 (2) = 6.660) and length of hair (X2 0.05 (2) = 58.042) also significantly influenced the prevalence of this ectoparasitosis. The age group most affected was the 10-12year-old (X2 0.05 (3) = 59.891). Questionnaire answers revealed that intense itching of the head was the most frequently observed symptom by the parents/guardians of affected children and that manual scavenging and pesticides are the main methods of controlling lice. Parents/guardians suggest the indicated educational institutions as the main sources of infestations. The results indicate the need to implement an integrated program to control this ectoparasitosis in the majority of the institutionssurveyed. |
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